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Opposition politician hails forthcoming election as great opportunity

The forthcoming presidential election, despite being the most difficult one, will be a great opportunity for those in favor of change, Anatol Lyabedzka, chairman of the United Civic Party, said Monday during a regional conference of pro-democratic forces in Brest, BelaPAN reports.

The government's anti-crisis measures do not inspire confidence in people, Mr. Lyabedzka explained. This allows the opposition camp to suggest an alternative for which people will vote and maybe even take to the streets, he said.

In addition, people are mentally tired of seeing the same face, Mr. Lyabedzka said. "People want to see a new person, they want renewal," he said. "This is a psychological and not a political issue. Even in prosperous countries, voters do not support politicians for this reason."

The deterioration of the relations between Belarus and Russia may also help the opposition forces win, Mr. Lyabedzka said. "This undermines the government because officials in Belarus are very much oriented toward the Kremlin," he said. "They formerly believed that whatever happens in Belarus, Lukashenka has the Kremlin to help him out. The strongly confrontational rhetoric makes officials more prudent and less apt to violate [electoral regulations] and rig the election," he said.

Opinion polls suggest that most people in Belarus are in favor of change, Mr. Lyabedzka noted.