Belarusian Left Party "A Just World"

Left-wing political party in Belarus

The Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" (Belarusian: Беларуская партыя левых «Справядлівы свет», romanized: Bielaruskaja partyja lievych «Spraviadlivy sviet») is a former left-wing[4] political party in Belarus that opposes the government of president Alexander Lukashenko. Until October 2009, it was known as the Belarusian Party of Communists (PCB; Belarusian: Партыя камуністаў беларуская; ПКБ, romanized: Partyja kamunistaŭ bielaruskaja; PKB, literally "Party of Communists Belarusian").

History

Founded as the Belarusian Party of Communists (PСB) 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. With Lukashenko having become president in 1994, a split in sentiment occurred within the PBC and 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 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) standards according to OSCE's 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.[5]

The party was banned for six months for paperwork irregularities on 2 August 2007.[6]

The party has been led by Sergey Kalyakin since founding. In 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 US could influence processes that were taking place in Belarus. In addition, Kalyakin suggested that the US, the European Union and Russia cooperate to develop a common policy regarding Belarus.[7]

As of October 2009, the party is a member of the Party of the European Left.[8]

In November 2009, the party was renamed to the Belarusian United Left Party "A Just World."[9]

Ban

On 30 June 2023 it became known about the decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus to refuse to re-register the party.[10] This was followed on 29 September 2023 by the party being formally liquidated by the Supreme Court of Belarus, making it the final opposition party to be dissolved in Belarus.[11]

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Election Candidate First round Second round Result
Votes % Votes %
1994 Vasil Novikaŭ 253,009
4.29%
 Lost Red XN
2001 Sergey Kalyakin Not admitted to the elections
2006 Endorsed Alaksandar Milinkievič 405,486
6.12%
 Lost Red XN
2010 Did not contest
2015 Sergey Kalyakin Not admitted to the elections
2020 Did not contest

Legislative elections

Election Leader Performance Rank Government
Votes % +/– Seats +/–
1995 Sergey Kalyakin
43 / 260
 New 1st Opposition
2000
0 / 110
 Decrease 43 7th Extra-parliamentary
2004 160,011
2.62%
(5 Plus) 		New
0 / 110
 Steady 0 Steady 7th Extra-parliamentary
2008 127,429
2.37%
 Decrease 0.25
0 / 110
 Steady 0 Increase 3rd Extra-parliamentary
2012 98,288
1.87%
 Decrease 0.50
0 / 110
 Steady 0 Decrease 5th Extra-parliamentary
2016 72,185
1.40%
 Decrease 0.37
0 / 110
 Steady 0 Decrease 7th Extra-parliamentary
2019 37,861
0.72%
 Decrease 0.68
0 / 110
 Steady 0 Decrease 9th Extra-parliamentary

References

  1. ^ "The Left in Belarus Is Fighting to Put Social Demands at the Heart of the Protests". Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  2. ^ "From Street Protests to Circle Activism". Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2008). "Belarus". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011.
  4. ^ Korosteleva, Elena (2005). "The Emergence of a Party System". Postcommunist Belarus. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 38. ISBN 0-7425-3555-X. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  5. ^ PDF Archived 6 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Internet hostile to Belarus: president". Reuters. 2 August 2007. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  7. ^ "Group of Belarusian opposition leaders to visit USA". naviny.by. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. ^ Member parties of the European Left Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Belarus". europeanforum.net. Archived from the original on 18 April 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  10. ^ ПАРТИЯ «СПРАВЕДЛИВЫЙ МИР» ОБЖАЛУЕТ РЕШЕНИЕ МИНЮСТА ОБ ОТКАЗЕ В ПЕРЕРЕГИСТРАЦИИ
  11. ^ "Вярхоўны суд ліквідаваў апошнюю апазіцыйную партыю" [Supreme court liquidates final opposition party]. Nasha Niva (in Belarusian). 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.

External links

  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata (in Russian)
  • Official website of the party newspaper
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Party of the European Left
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See also
Eurofoundation: Transform Europe