Belarusian Left Party "A Just World"
The Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" (Belarusian: Беларуская партыя аб'яднаных левых «Справядлівы сьвет», Russian: Белорусская партия объединённых левых «Справедливый мир») is a left-wing[1] political party in Belarus that opposes the government of president Alexander Lukashenko. Until October 2009 it was known as the Party of Belarusian Communists (Belarusian: Партыя камуністаў Беларусі, romanized: Partyja Kamunistau Bielarusi, Russian: Партия коммунистов Белоруссии, romanized: Partiya Kommunistov Belorussii).
Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" Беларуская партыя аб'яднаных левых «Справядлівы сьвет» | |
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Leader | Sergey Kalyakin |
Founded | 1991 |
Preceded by | Communist Party of Byelorussia |
Ideology | Communism[1] Marxism Socialism[2] |
Political position | Left-wing |
National affiliation | United Democratic Forces of Belarus |
European affiliation | Party of the European Left |
Colours | Red |
House of Representatives | 0 / 110 |
Council of the Republic | 0 / 64 |
Website | |
spravmir | |
History
Founded as the Party of Belarusian Communists (PKB) in 1991 as the legal successor to the ruling Communist Party of Byelorussia, the organization originally emerged as one of the major political parties in independent Belarus. In 1996 a pro-Lukashenko faction of the party broke away and formed the Communist Party of Belarus.
In the 13–17 October 2004 legislative elections, the party was part of the People's Coalition 5 Plus, which did not secure any seats. These elections fell significantly short of OSCE commitments according to the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission. Universal principles and constitutionally guaranteed rights of expression, association and assembly were seriously challenged, calling into question the Belarusian authorities' willingness to respect the concept of political competition on a basis of equal treatment. According to this mission principles of an inclusive democratic process, whereby citizens have the right to seek political office without discrimination, candidates to present their views without obstruction, and voters to learn about them and discuss them freely, were largely ignored.[3]
The party was banned for six months for paperwork irregularities on 2 August 2007.[4]
The party is led by Sergey Kalyakin. On February 2007, Kalyakin visited the United States and met both chambers of the US Congress, Department of State officials, and representatives of non-governmental organizations in order to discuss ways in which the United States could influence processes that were taking place in Belarus. In addition, Kalyakin suggested that the United States, the European Union and Russia cooperate to develop a common policy regarding Belarus.[5]
As of October 2009, the party is a member of the Party of the European Left.[6]
In November 2009 the party renamed to Belarusian United Left Party "A Just World."[7]
Electoral history
Presidential elections
Election | Party candidate | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First round | Second round | |||||
1994 | Vasil Novikau | 253,009 | 4.4% | - | - | Lost |
References
- Korosteleva, Elena (2005). "The Emergence of a Party System". Postcommunist Belarus. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 38. ISBN 0-7425-3555-X.
- Nordsieck, Wolfram (2008). "Belarus". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011.
- PDF Archived 6 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- "Internet hostile to Belarus: president". Reuters. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- "Group of Belarusian opposition leaders to visit USA". naviny.by. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- Member parties of the European Left Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- "Belarus". europeanforum.net. Archived from the original on 18 April 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
External links
- Official website (in Russian)
- Official website of the party newspaper