{"id":187803,"date":"2026-05-16T21:15:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T18:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/187803\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T21:15:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T18:15:51","slug":"speaker-calls-for-coordination-council-reforms","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/187803\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaker calls for Coordination Council reforms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Arciom Bruchan\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

May 16, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Arciom Bruchan, speaker of the opposition Coordination Council, has called for the Council\u2019s reform after the election and urged all electoral lists to join the discussion as he addressed them today in Warsaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Council may expand to two chambers to include more political actors and attract participation of activists who, for some reason, decided not to participate in the election, he said, adding that other ideas and suggestions are welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reforms are a natural response to ongoing challenges, he added, noting that several factors had affected turnout in the current election, which closes at midnight on May 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyberattacks, propaganda and information operations originating from Minsk, along with the depoliticization of society and transnational repression, are making political activity less attractive, Bruchan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activist added that a different system for selecting members is needed, suggesting a model based on delegation or a similar mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voting in the current election began at noon on May 12 after long delays triggered by a security alert and a cyberattack on the online voting platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two days ago, the voting was moved to https:\/\/rada2026.svaepeera.com<\/a>. The organizers point out that voters in Belarus must use VPN and Incognito browsing. Those who don\u2019t use Incognito, must delete history and browsing data for safety reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As many as 174 candidates representing nine political groups are running for the 80-member Coordination Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities branded all groups as \u201cextremist\u201d in an attempt to disrupt the voting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Coordination Council is a non-governmental body established in 2020 to facilitate a democratic transfer of power in Belarus. The Council originally had 64 core members with a seven-member leadership board. Amid the post-election crackdown in Belarus, many of the Council\u2019s members were arrested or forced into exile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022 and 2023, the Coordination Council was re-established abroad as a body consisting of representatives of various pro-democracy groups in exile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2024, the Council held its first direct online election, with more than 6,700 citizens of Belarus reportedly taking part in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 28 seats, Pavie\u0142 \u0141atu\u0161ka and the Movement for Freedom is currently the Council\u2019s largest political group. \u0141atu\u0161ka is deputy head of the opposition transition cabinet led by Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coordination Council extends voting deadline to midnight on May 19<\/h3>\n
May 15, Pozirk. The opposition Coordination Council has decided to extend the online voting until midnight on May 19, following a recommendation from the election commission, the Council\u2019s press office reports. Thirty-seven delegates voted in favor, three against, with no …<\/div>\n \n