Leader Sergey Kalyakin Ideology Democratic socialism | Founded 1991 (1991) Political position Left-wing | |
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Russian name Белорусская партия объединённых левых «Справедливый мир» National affiliation United Democratic Forces of Belarus | ||
The Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" (Belarusian: Беларуская партыя аб'яднаных левых «Справядлівы сьвет», Russian: Белорусская партия объединённых левых «Справедливый мир») is a left-wing political party in Belarus, which opposes the government of president Alexander Lukashenko. Until October 2009 it was known as the Party of Belarusian Communists (Belarusian: Партыя камуністаў Беларусі, Partyja Kamunistau Bielarusi, Russian: Партия коммунистов Белоруссии, Partiya Kommunistov Belorussii).
History
Founded as the Party of Belarusian Communists (PKB) in 1991 as the successor of the ruling Communist Party of Byelorussia, the organization originally emerged as one of the major political parties in independent Belarus. The Party of Communists of Belarus should be distinguished from the pro-Alexander Lukashenko Communist Party of Belarus, which broke away from PKB in 1996.
At the legislative elections, 13–17 October 2004, the party was part of the People's Coalition 5 Plus, which didn't secure any seats. These elections fell significantly short of OSCE commitments according to the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission. Universal principles and constitutionally guaranteed rights of expression, association and assembly were seriously challenged, calling into question the Belarusian authorities’ willingness to respect the concept of political competition on a basis of equal treatment. According to this mission principles of an inclusive democratic process, whereby citizens have the right to seek political office without discrimination, candidates to present their views without obstruction, and voters to learn about them and discuss them freely, were largely ignored.
The party was banned for six months for paperwork irregularities on August 2, 2007.
The party is led by Sergey Kalyakin. On February 2007, Kalyakin visited the United States and met both chambers of the US Congress, Department of State officials, and representatives of non-governmental organizations in order to discuss ways in which the United States could influence processes that are taking place in Belarus. In addition, Kalyakin would suggest that the United States, the European Union and Russia should cooperate to develop a common policy regarding Belarus.
As of October 2009, the party is a member of the Party of the European Left.
In November 2009 the party decided to be renamed to Belarusian United Left Party "A Just World."