The Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" (Belarusian: Беларуская партыя левых «Справядлівы свет», romanized: Biełaruskaja partyja levych "Spraviadlivy sviet") was 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").
Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" Беларуская партыя левых «Справядлівы свет» | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Sergey Kalyakin |
| Founded | 7 December 1991 (PCB) 25 October 2009 (BPL) |
| Dissolved | 29 September 2023 |
| Preceded by | Communist Party of Byelorussia |
| Headquarters | 11th building, Radialnaya St, Minsk, Belarus. 220070 |
| Newspaper | Novyi Tovarishch (New Comrade) |
| Ideology | Revolutionary nationalism[1] Left-wing nationalism[2] Socialism[3] Anti-Lukashenko |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| National affiliation | United Democratic Forces of Belarus |
| European affiliation | Party of the European Left |
| Continental affiliation | Forum of Socialists of the CIS Countries |
| Colours | Red |
| Anthem | The Internationale |
| House of Representatives | 0 / 110 |
| Council of the Republic | 0 / 64 |
| Local seats | 2 / 18,110 |
| Website | |
| spravmir | |
History
editFounded 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
editOn 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
editPresidential elections
edit| Election | Candidate | First round | Second round | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| 1994 | Vasil Novikaŭ | 253,009 | Lost 
| |||
| 2001 | Sergey Kalyakin | Not admitted to the elections | ||||
| 2006 | Endorsed Alaksandar Milinkievič | 405,486 | Lost
| |||
| 2010 | Did not contest | |||||
| 2015 | Sergey Kalyakin | Not admitted to the elections | ||||
| 2020 | Did not contest | |||||
Legislative elections
edit| Election | Leader | Performance | Rank | Government | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– | ||||
| 1995 | Sergey Kalyakin | 43 / 260
|
New | 1st | Opposition | |||
| 2000 | 0 / 110
|
 43
|
7th | Extra-parliamentary | ||||
| 2004 | 160,011 | (5 Plus) | New | 0 / 110
|
 0
|
7th
|
Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2008 | 127,429 | 0.25
|
0 / 110
|
0
|
 3rd
|
Extra-parliamentary | ||
| 2012 | 98,288 | 0.50
|
0 / 110
|
0
|
5th
|
Extra-parliamentary | ||
| 2016 | 72,185 | 0.37
|
0 / 110
|
0
|
7th
|
Extra-parliamentary | ||
| 2019 | 37,861 | 0.68
|
0 / 110
|
0
|
9th
|
Extra-parliamentary | ||
References
edit- ^ "The Left in Belarus Is Fighting to Put Social Demands at the Heart of the Protests". Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "From Street Protests to Circle Activism". 22 December 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2008). "Belarus". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ PDF Archived 6 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Internet hostile to Belarus: president". Reuters. 2 August 2007. Archived from the original on 16 October 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.
- ^ ПАРТИЯ «СПРАВЕДЛИВЫЙ МИР» ОБЖАЛУЕТ РЕШЕНИЕ МИНЮСТА ОБ ОТКАЗЕ В ПЕРЕРЕГИСТРАЦИИ
- ^ "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
edit- Official website
(in Russian) - Official website of the party newspaper
