Labour MEP Alfred Sant called for a process of national reconciliation and
democratization in Belarus and said that this should take place before any
intervention in the country.
Requests for direct intervention by the EU can easily boomerang while
statements indicating the recognition of a Belarusian political leader as
president-elect seem premature and politically motivated.
In a resolution adopted by 574 votes in favour, 37 against with 82 abstentions,
the European Parliament rejected the official results of the presidential elections
in Belarus on 9 August this year, as these elections were conducted in a
“flagrant violation of all internationally recognised standards”.
Alfred Sant voted in favour of the resolution that condemns the current state of
affairs in Belarus but expressed doubts on major elements of the text as
presented.
In an explanation of vote, Alfred Sant said that events following the presidential
elections have left the country destabilized and added that the political system in
Belarus has now reached an unacceptable level of state repression aimed to
reinforce a totalitarian government
“Though I am personally averse to this Parliament pronouncing itself on the
affairs of outside countries, there come moments when solidarity with the
struggle for democracy and against dictatorship overrides all other considerations. So, while not taking part in the main separate votes on this report, I voted in favour of the final text, as a gesture of solidarity with the Belarusian people in their fight for liberty”, Alfred Sant said.
The European Parliament cannot condemn Russian interference in Belarusian
affairs, while inviting Union actors to do the same. A real risk is that Belarus
becomes yet another theater for confrontation between the EU’s soft power and
Russia’s real politik.
The resolution adopted by the European Parliament also noted that, once the
term of office for the incumbent leader Alexander Lukashenko expires on 5
November, the European Parliament will no longer recognise him as the
president of the country.
