The Chamber of Representatives voted 71 to eight on 22 June to reject liberal amendments to the Election Code proposed by Valery Fralou, BelaPAN reported. Amendments were placed on the agenda after a hunger strike by three members of the "Respublika" caucus - Fralou, Uladzimir Parfyanovich, and Syarhey Skrabets. If passed, the amendments would allow observers to monitor ballot counting at a distance that would allow them to see the content of the ballots without hampering the election commission and would guarantee political parties' representation on election commissions, among other things. "I urge you to pass these changes for the sake of improving your own reputation and the reputation of our country," Fralou told lawmakers.
15 august 2004
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