UDF Leaders: BPF Withdrawal will not Affect Coalition Work

The leaders of the political parties that participate in the coalition of the United Democratic Forces do not attach much importance to the statement of the Belarusian Popular Front Sojm.

The first secretary of the Belarusian Party of Communists Siarhey Kalyakin believes that the leadership of the Front could claim only their non-participation in the coalition.

"Nobody gave the BPF a right to declare liquidation of the agency which includes several other organisations, no less credible, not less organised, and not less influential in the Republic of Belarus."

To claim that the UDF does not exist is the same as "to say that the sun no longer rises and the earth no longer revolves," said the leader of opposition Communists.

"If someone does not want to work he will always find a reason", commented the chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) Anatol Lyaukovich. "They have the right to state their view of the situation. But we do know that the UDF exists. There are regional coalitions, and they do work".

The resolution of the BPF to establish a new advisory platform surprised Anatol Lyaukovich. In his view, the coalition of the UDF "is that very open space where you can meet and discuss."

As the chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka told www.udf.by, the BPF party did not participate in the work of the United Democratic Forces during the year.

"In virtue of a number of reasons, the BPF had other priorities during the year. First they were busy solving problems within their organisation, then creating a new block. But the UDF coalition at the time was preparing anti-crisis proposals, working with people, dealing with the problem of changes in the electoral code, and working out a position for supporting small and medium businesses. The UDF had priorities, had activity, but only individual members of the BPF and not the whole organization participated in its work. This does not mean that individual members or even branches of the BPF will be kicked out of the UDF work."

According to Anatol Lyabedzka, the BPF withdrawal from the UDF "will not paralyse the work" of the coalition.

The same opinion was expressed by Siarhey Kalyakin.
"I do not think something extraordinary has happened. We have a democratic union, and it is the right of each organisation to join or leave. We will continue the work with other organisations that are part of the UDF", - said the leader of the BPC.

It should be reminded that the BPF Sojm stated at its meeting on 21 November in Minsk that the coalition of the United Democratic Forces no longer existed.