Hungary did not agree to a joint message by the European Union on the presidential elections in Belarus, in which Alexander Lukashenko was victorious. This decision has sparked controversy among EU associate States, stressing the tensions in Community abroad policy.
Election results: Lukashenko with a crushing advantage
According to authoritative results, Aleksandr Lukashenka won as many as 87.6% of the votes in the presidential election in Belarus. The Belarusian media, citing exit poll results, indicated that the remaining candidates reached 1 to 3% of support, and 5.1% of voters voted against all candidates. Lukashenko, who has ruled the country for 31 years, will service as president for the seventh time.
The election was held in an atmosphere of strong restrictions on the media, repression of the opposition and deficiency of global observation. As stressed by the EU institutions, the vote did not meet democratic standards and its results were considered unreliable.
"A situation worse than in 2020" – Opposition comments
Paweł Latuszka, Belarusian oppositionist and vice president of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, in an interview with RMF FM assessed that the current political situation in Belarus is even more hard than after the 2020 election.
– At that time – as the military shot at people – they could be held responsible. Now the bill allows you to shoot people and not take responsibility... There were no protests about the elections in Belarus this year, due to the fact that there are thousands of political prisoners in Belarusian prisons," Latuszka said.
Common EU position blocked by Hungary
The European Union planned to issue a joint message on elections in Belarus. The task envisaged condemning the vote as involuntary, unfair and incompatible with global law. The paper was besides intended to item unprecedented repression of the opposition and restrictions on freedom of the press.
Radio Swoboda, citing sources in Brussels, stated that Hungary and Slovakia initially did not support the draft statement. Slovakia has yet changed its mind, but Hungary as the only EU associate State has refused to sign the document. This blocked the anticipation for the full community to issue a joint communication.
Hungary's decision has sparked criticism from another associate States, which considered it to be weakening EU solidarity on abroad policy issues. The EU advanced typical for abroad Affairs and safety Policy Kaja Kallas and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos published a separate message stating the fictitiousness and illegality of the 26 January elections.
Political implications for Belarus and the EU
The absence of a common EU position can have long-term consequences for both Belarus and the European Union itself. Firstly, the deficiency of unanimity in condemning elections weakens the diplomatic force on the Lukashenko regime. Secondly, the differences in the associate States' approach to Belarus policy show divisions in the EU that could affect future decisions on sanctions or on east policies.
More here:
Hungary blocks the EU joint message on elections in Belarus
