Candidates' income reach Br280 million

In the view of spin doctors, the income of candidates produces a significant influence on the choice of people during polls. The European Radio for Belarus read through the lists of candidates for the seats at the Vitsebsk, Homel, Hrodna, Babruisk City councils and the Minsk Regional Council and came up with the list of those the most wealthy.

Uladzimir Zukhavitski, General Director of the ZOV joint stock society, received the biggest income of Br277 million 768 thousand in 2009. He is followedd in the Top 10 list as follows:

2. Syarhei Navistki -- Br199 million 665 thousand. General Director of HenkelBauteknik. Running for the Minsk Regional Counci.

3. Br156 million 325 thousand. Valery Kiryienka, General Director of Belaruskali potashium monopoly. Running for the Minsk Regional Council.

4. Br139 million 194 thousand. Andrei Prysyazhonok, director of Studiplus company. Running for the Minsk Regional Council.

5. Br130 million. Syarhei Khanenya, a vice chancellor of the Homel State University. Running for the Homel City Council.

6. 111 million 341 thousand. Mikalai Asheichy, director of Stroitrest No 3. Running for the Minsk Regional Council

7. Br 88 million. Mikhail Krauchanka, General Director of Hrodnaazot. Running for the Hrodna City Council.

8. Br84 million. Alesya Samsonava, director of Spartak apparel factory. Running for the Homel City Council.

9. Br77 million 165 thousand. Vyachaslau Azarets, director of Belenergo branch in Babruisk. Running for the Babruisk City Council.

10. Br72 million. Mikhail Kanyavalau, director of Gosstroiexpertiza company. Running for the Vitsebsk City Council.

In the view of Mikalai Lazavik, secretary of the Central Election Commission, the income of all the people have increased. Therefore, voters' attitude towards reach candidate is very positive.

Mikalai Lazavik: “The number of entrepreneurs has increased greatly in the country. This contributes to a shift in the attitude to wealth candidates from negative to the positive. If a person has managed to achieve something in his life, he will possibly be a successful candidate and will be able to tackle social and economic problems of his region”.

The information about the incomce of candidates are very important from the point of view of political technologies, says political commentator Dzianis Melyantsou. According to him, the information about the income of a candidate can become decisive to those who are deciding about their choice in the very last moment.

But it is almost impossible to guess how the income of the candidate will affect the results of the polls, says Meyantsou. Every social group will treat this information in a different way. One should also take into account the education, age, social activity and personal income of every voter. But the expert advises against "lowering" the income of candidates.

Euroradio called Syarhei Navitski, No 2 on our Top Ten list. He was humorous about our question on the income. He said: "You mean the amount mentioned is too small? In my view, the sum is too small. It could have been 2-3 or 10 times more. The more there are people with such an income, the better people live in their country".

When asked why he would not run for parliament or presidency with such an income, Navitski noted that he would then have to resign from his current position, but he does not want. Perhaps, he is right, because the official income of the Belarusian president in 2005 was much less than those of the people on our Top 10 list. Back then, Lukashenka made slightly over Br59 million.

 
The current exchange rate of $1 is approximately Br3000.