Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Assembly)

The Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Assembly) (Belarusian: Беларуская сацыял-дэмакратычная партыя (Грамада́), Łacinka: Bielaruskaja sacyjal-demakratyčnaja partyja (Hramada); Russian: Белорусская социал-демократическая партия (Громада́), romanizedBelarusskaya Social-Demokraticheskaya Partiya (Hromada)) is a banned social-democratic[1] political party in Belarus that opposes the government of president Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Assembly)
Беларуская сацыял-дэмакратычная партыя (Грамада)
Белорусская социал-демократическая партия (Грамада)
AbbreviationBSDP (Hramada)
БСДП (Грамада)
LeaderIhar Barysaŭ
FounderAnatol Laŭkovič
Founded25 June 2005; 19 years ago (2005-06-25)
Banned20 September 2023; 13 months ago (2023-09-20)
Split fromBelarusian Social Democratic Party (People's Assembly)
Belarusian Labour Party
Headquarters9-607th building, Kulman St, Minsk, Belarus
NewspaperAdliustravannie,
Pazicyja
Youth wingYoung Social Democrats — Young Hramada
Membership (2019)1,127
IdeologySocial democracy
Liberal democracy
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre-left
National affiliationUnited Democratic Forces of Belarus
European affiliationParty of European Socialists
International affiliationProgressive Alliance
Colours  Red
  White
Slogan«We think about everyone — we work together!»
(Belarusian: «Думаем пра кожнага — працуем разам!»)
AnthemThe Internationale translated by Yanka Kupala
House of Representatives
0 / 110
Council of the Republic
0 / 64
Website
bsdp.org

History

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The party was founded in 2005 after the split within the BSDP (People's Assembly). It considers itself the successor of the historical Belarusian Socialist Assembly founded in 1902. Alaksandar Kazulin, a former rector of Belarusian State University, became the first party leader of the new registered party. The BSDP (People's Assembly) remained without registration and office.[2]

At the legislative elections in 13–17 October 2004, the party did not secure any seats. These elections fell significantly short of OSCE commitments, according to the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission.[3] Its candidate at the presidential election of 2006, Alaksandar Kazulin, won 2.3% of the vote.

In 2011, Iryna Veshtard was elected as the new chairman of the party.[4]

On 20 September 2023, the party was banned by the Supreme Court of Belarus.[5]

Ideology and goals of the party

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The Belarusian Social Democratic Party belongs to the community of parties associated with the Socialist International. BSDP focuses on Western European social-democratic ideology and is supported by various Western European social democratic parties. The main task of the country's foreign party promotes not only the entry of Belarus into the European Union and NATO, but also promotes the accession of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova. [citation needed]

Electoral history

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Presidential elections

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Election Candidate First round Second round Result
Votes % Votes %
2006 Alyaksandr Kazulin 147,402
2.23%
Lost  N
2010 Mikola Statkevich 67,583
1.05%
Lost  N
2015 Tatsiana Karatkevich 271,426
4.48%
Lost  N
2020 Endorsed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya 588,622
10.12%
Lost  N

Legislative elections

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Election Party leader Performance Rank Government
Votes % ± pp Seats +/–
2008 Anatol Laŭkovič 17,380
0.32%
  2.51
0 / 110
  0   8th Extra-parliamentary
2012 Iryna Veshtard 38,471
0.73%
  0.41
0 / 110
  0   6th Extra-parliamentary
2016 66,381
1.29%
  0.56
0 / 110
  0   8th Extra-parliamentary
2019 Ihar Barysaŭ 84,790
1.61%
  0.32
0 / 110
  0   6th Extra-parliamentary

Leadership

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Image Name Tenure
1 Michaś Tkačoŭ 1991–
1992
2   Aleh Trusaŭ 1992–
1995
3   Mikola Statkevich 1995–
2005
4   Anatol Laŭkovič 2005–
2006
5 Alyaksandr Kazulin 2006–
2008
6   Anatol Laŭkovič 2008–
2010
7 Anatol Sidarevič 2010–
2011
8   Iryna Veshtard 2011–
2018
9   Ihar Barysaŭ 2018
Incumbent

See also

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History of Belarusian social-democratic parties

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Belarusian Social Democratic AssemblySocial Democratic Party of Popular AccordBelarusian Social Democratic Party (People's Assembly)All-Belarusian Unity and Accord PartyBelarusian Labour PartyPeople's Accord PartyBelarusian Social Democratic Assembly

References

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  1. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2008). "Belarus". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011.
  2. ^ European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity
  3. ^ Republic of Belarus: Parliamentary Elections 17 October 2004 — OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report Archived 6 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Solidarity with Belarus Information Office Archived 2012-07-19 at archive.today
  5. ^ "Вярхоўны суд ліквідаваў Беларускую сацыял-дэмакратычную партыю (Грамада)". Nasha Niva. 20 September 2023.
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