OREANDA-NEWS. July 22, 2008. The political parties are actively involved in registering initiative groups for nominating candidates.

The nomination of candidates through signatures collection is one of the three ways to participate in the parliamentary elections. One can also run for the Lower Chamber of the Belarusian Parliament if one is nominated by their co-workers or a political party. The signatures (a total of 1000) are collected by an initiative group consisting of at least 10 people.

The deadline for submitting the lists of initiative groups and the applications for their registration is July 24. The nomination of candidates to the House of Representatives of the fourth convocation was launched on July 20.

“Political parties seem to nominate the same candidates through different ways – by a political party, at a congress and by collecting signatures,” Nikolai Lozovik said. According to him, they do it “to get an opportunity to meet with voters, introduce them to their programmes before they are registered as candidates.” Nikolai Lozovik also noted that a potential candidate can also act as member of an initiative group, lead it and collect signatures in his/her support.

The secretary of the central election commission underlined that the Belarusian legislature gives candidates an opportunity to use “double” or “triple” nomination simultaneously: by a political party, co-workers and by collecting signatures.