International Conference
Democratic Elections for Resolution of Crisis in Belarus
1-2 June 2021 International Conference Democratic Elections for Resolution of Crisis in Belarus
The purpose of the conference is to bring together Belarusian and international ex- perts on elections to discuss ideas for holding early elections as a means to ending the political crisis in Belarus. In spring 2021, almost 800,000 Belarusian citizens took part in an online survey to express their support for negotiations leading to early elections and a number of international actors have supported the idea of re- solving the crisis through an election. As evidenced by recent surveys conducted through Chatham House (UK) and ZOiS (Germany), trust in the official political in- stitutions in Belarus remains weak. As the current institutions are unable function effectively, finding the way out of the crisis is becoming even more important.
The conference will bring together political stakeholders from Belarus and abroad, Belarusian and international election experts, representatives of international or- ganizations, and election management bodies from a wide range of countries. Pan- els comprising Belarusian and international experts will provide an opportunity for an open discussion of political and electoral options, policy approaches, and will specifically focus on exchange of expertise on electoral matters. Invitations were extended to representatives of the current authorities of Belarusin the spirit of pur- suing a broad and inclusive public discussion of the resolution of the crisis.
The participants will look at the possible avenues to have dialogue between society and the current authorities of Belarus pave the way towards holding early elections, the modalities for such elections, as well as the longer-term objective of fundamen- tal electoral reform in Belarus, including through adoption of a new election code. Expert panels will consider the experience of other countries in holding post-crisis elections and facilitating longer-term electoral reform. Each panel discussion will be guided by a set of suggested questions and supplemented by contributions from the floor. The conference is expected to lead to more thematic debates on electoral, political and other topics of relevance to Belarus.
The conference is co-organized by IFES, International IDEA and DRI, under the pa- tronage of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of democratic Belarus. Working languages of the conference will be Belarusian, Russian and English. 1 June Annotated Agenda • • • • discussion willfocus onthefollowing aspects of theelectoral process willneedtobeagreed uponasa way outof thecrisis.The new democratic elections should be the key output of the negotiated solution and what process asguarantors andserve for theoutputs.Lastly, panelists willconsiderwhether possibilities of anegotiated solutionandwhichinternational actorscould mediate inthe it canberesolved through democratic means the current politicalcrisisinBelarusmatters from theinternational perspective, and the crisisanditspolitical The paneldiscussionwillfocus onthe EuropeanVice-President, Parliament Klára Dobrev authorities of Belarus Representative of thecurrent Name Surname Leader of Democratic Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Speakers: Beata Martin-Rozumilowicz Moderator: 15:00 –15:15 Towards theNegotiations&New Elections 1 June2021: UTC/GMT+3hrs)(Time zone -Minsk, 15:15 –16:30 2021the negotiations? internationally? What aspectsof holding new elections should beagreed uponduring Why hasthegoalof new elections asthe outputof the negotiations beensupported way what could beother options? and,ifnot, What democratic meanscanbe usedtoresolve thecrisis?Are thenegotiations theonly international civilsociety? Why isthe current situation toforeign inBelarusof importance governments and runandinthelongspace for run? optimismintheshort What are the latest developments andtrends inthecurrent crisisinBelarus?Isthere
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of Democratic Belarus Opening Remarks solutions for acrisis inBelarus High Level Panel: and
, Director for Europe andEurasia, IFES human rightsdimensions
key questions: current state of affairs inBelarus - 3 Secretary-General, International IDEA Secretary-General, Kevin Casas-Zamora AssemblyOSCE Parliamentary Secretary-General, Montella Roberto Congressman, USCongress Bill Keating . Participantswillspecifically focus onthe Possible democratic . Speakers willalsodiscusswhy
, the origins of how 1 June • • • the following guiding to provide areflection ontheviews of theBelarusianactors.Thediscussionwillfocus on encouraged tospeakfrom thefloor. Contribution from theinternational expert isenvisaged not includerepresentatives from theexisting andprospective whowillbe politicalparties of new elections can beachieved Panelists fromas adiscussant. Belaruswillprovide checkon areality of democratic changesinBelarus. This panelwillbringtogetherrepresentatives of Member of Presidium, Coordination Council Leader, National Anti-Crisis Management; Pavel Latushka Coordination Council Member of Presidium, Volha Kavalkova Tsikhanouskaya Senior Advisor toSviatlana Franak Viacorka Speakers: Michael Meyer-Resende, Moderator: 16:30 –18:00 2021 as a“goodenough” election? What should betherealistic goalfor thestandard of new elections? What would count What could bethenegotiated sequencingof events inthepoliticaltransformation? having new elections andthenegotiations? Is holding new elections anachievable goal?What should bethepre-conditions for
questions:
Towards new elections –reality check Political Panel:
Executive Director, DRI They willbejoinedby aninternational expertanddiplomat and whatneedstobedoneattain it
- 4 Elections Expert International Political and Ambassador UrszulaGacek authorities of Belarus Representative of thecurrent Name Surname key politicalactors amongtheproponents
whether theobjective
. Thepaneldoes
2 June • • • expert panelwillconsiderandexchange views on thefollowing inputs andanalysis totake willbeimportant into account of inBelarus.Theparticipants the experience of holding timeframes.be regulated, short Several includingwithinvery EMBsintheregion have the election andvote observers, counting. Someotheraspects of theprocess might needto commissions, collection andverification signatures, of supporting accessandrights of be adoptedby thereformed Central Election Commissiontoaddress formation of election ofThe Office Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya hasrecently published asetof draftregulations to within thechangingpoliticalenvironment responsible for holding theelections willneedtodecideon timeframe for introducing substantial amendments totheexisting laws. Therefore, thebodies Conducting snap elections as the outcome of the negotiations would allow a too short “Right toChoose” Coordinator, Campaign Aliaksandr Silkou ofOffice Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Special Representative onElections, Alexander Shlyk Speakers: Nana Kalandadze, Moderator: Elections –How? 2 June2021: 15:00 –16:30 additionally? sufficient powers toregulate whoshould allaspectsof itrely theprocess and,ifnot, on within theconfinesof legal theimperfect framework? DoestheEMBinBelarushave What aspectsof theprocess should require specificattention andadditionalregulation resolve thepoliticalcrisis? What should bethegeneral principles for theconduct of new democratic elections to 2021currently inpower? key politicalstakeholders, includingthose contribution tothedemocratic process by the What should betheroles, responsibilities and
Programme Manager, International IDEA snap elections as part of thepoliticaltransformationsnap elections aspart process
Short-term electionShort-term reform Panel: Expert
andonthebasisof updated sub-legal regulations. - 5 Former Chairmanof Central Election Iurie Ciocan CEC Ukraine –TBC Representative of Ukraine authorities of Belarus Representative of thecurrent Name Surname Commission of Moldova (2011-2016)
how toadminister theprocess questions:
. Their 16:30 – 18:00 Expert Panel: Short-term election reform Moderator: Alexander Shlyk, Special Representative on Elections, Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Speakers: Enira Bronitskaya Tamar Zhvania Human Rights Defender, Election Expert Chairwoman, Central Election Lev Margolin Commission of Georgia Coordinator, Working Group Zsolt Szolnoki on New Constitution Secretary-General, Association Name Surname of Central and Eastern European Election Officials (ACEEEO) Representative of the current authorities of Belarus
The longer-term prospect of democratization in Belarus would require a substantial reform of the electoral and related legislation. Revised constitutional provisions would need to be reflected and supplemented by the adoption of new laws to govern the electoral process, support the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms essential for elections, regulate activities of political parties, media outlets and other electoral stakeholders. These reforms would need to be closely coordinated. In this panel discussion, the experts will consider specific legal reforms that would be necessary to support the sustainability of democratic elections in Belarus. International community has provided valuable recommendations in the past, and some of the countries in the region have substantial experience of electoral reforms. Participants will focus on the following questions: • To what extent does election reform depend on constitutional reform and what should and could be the sequence of necessary steps? • What principles should underpin the substance and the process of legal reforms to set the grounds for a broadly accepted election reform? Who are the key stakeholders and how can they be involved already now? • What previous recommendations of international and citizen observers should take priority and how should they be strategically roadmapped? • How should the electoral reform be organized and what should be the role of the election management body? • What could be the crucial key elements in future election legislation? 2 June 2021
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