Belarusian parliamentary election, 2004
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Belarus |
Parliamentary elections were held in Belarus on 17 October 2004, with a second round of voting in two constituencies on 27 October, and a third round in one on 20 March 2005.[1][2] The vast majority of successful candidates, 97 of 109, were independents.[3] Voter turnout was reported to be 91.04% in the first round.[2]
A total of 359 candidates contested the election, with oppositing parties claiming that around 40% of their candidates were not registered.[2] The OCSE delegation noted that although all candidates were given a set amount of free television and radio airtime and a free statement in the national press, over 80% of television news time was dedicated to President Alexander Lukashenko in the five weeks before the election. They also noted concerns about the independence of the Electoral Commission and a lack of transparency during the voting and counting process.[2] The government also closed down nine independent newspapers in the lead-up to the elections.[2]
Results
Party | Round | Total seats |
+/– | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First | Second | Third | |||||||||
Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||
Communist Party of Belarus | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +2 | ||||||
Agrarian Party | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | –2 | ||||||
Liberal Democratic Party | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
People's Coalition 5 Plus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||||||
Republican Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
Social Democratic Party of Popular Accord | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –1 | ||||||
Independents | 96 | 1 | 1 | 98 | +4 | ||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 201,462 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
Total valid votes | 6,297,600 | 108 | 34,567 | 1 | 1 | 110 | 0 | ||||
Source: Nohlen, IPU |