MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Elections in Belarus
17.10.2012 - (2012/2815(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Helmut Scholz, Marie-Christine Vergiat on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0463/2012
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus, in particular that of 15 February 2012, 13 September 2011, 12 May 2011, 10 March 2011, 20 January 2011, 10 March 2010, 17 December 2009, 5 July 2012,
– having regard to the Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions of the international election observation involving the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) of 23 September 2012,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the international election observation mission concluded that ‘in the 23 September parliamentary elections, many OSCE commitments including citizens’ rights to associate, to stand as candidates, and to express themselves freely were not respected, despite some improvements to the electoral law. While there was an increase in the number of candidates put forward by parties, prominent political figures who might have played a role in this contest remained imprisoned or were not eligible to register due to their criminal record. The field of contestants was also constricted by arbitrary administrative actions, leading to a limitation of choice for voters. The elections were not administered in an impartial manner and the complaints and appeals process did not guarantee an effective remedy’;
B. whereas numerous violations were reported by the domestic and international observers, such as: pressure on opposition candidates and independent observers during the electoral campaign, unequal representation in the electoral commissions, censorship of candidates’ programmes and presentations in state-owned media, forced voting during the early voting period, serious impediments to the work of observers, non-transparency of the early voting, home voting and vote counting, as well as falsification of the turnout; whereas several independent observers were expelled from polling stations on election day;
C. whereas during the 2010 presidential election, several presidential candidates, journalists, and civil society representatives were arrested; whereas one of the former presidential candidates and a chairperson of a human rights organization that observed the election are still in prison;
D. whereas the political system is characterized by a weak party system, whereas the boycott of the elections of some opposition parties and the of the others to come up with a common strategy for the elections are important element for the analysis of the election results;
E. whereas Belarus’ relations with the European Union and it’s Member States remain extremely tense; whereas on 23 March 2012, the Council of the EU further extended the sanctions against the Belarus; whereas in August 2012, a diplomatic incident between Belarus and Sweden erupted;
1. Deeply deplores the failure of the Belarus authorities to meet their commitment to fair and transparent elections;
2. Reminds the Belarusian authorities that the existence and unhindered political action of democratic political parties and of a strong, independent and lively civil society is of vital importance for the proper functioning of any democratic state;
3. Demands that the Belarusian authorities immediately and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all those detained on political grounds; strongly criticises the continuation of the repressive measures against members of the democratic opposition, the free media, civil society activists and human rights defenders; calls on the Belarusian authorities to fulfil its international obligations in the field of civil and political rights, to guarantee the unity of political and social human rights, the democratic freedoms and political rights for all the citizens of Belarus;
4. Expresses preoccupation at the diplomatic conflict between the authorities of Belarus and an EU Member State; is concerned that the actions of both sides reinforces the atmosphere of mistrust and hostility between Belarus and the European Union, leading to further aggravation of contradictions instead of holding productive dialogue and searching mechanisms of mutually beneficial cooperation and neighbourhood;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Belarus Parliament and authorities, the Member States, the Commission and the Council, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE.