Popov set to become a new parliament speaker

The House of Representatives's Council has unanimously approved the nomination of Vadzim Popov, the chairman of the International Relations and CIS Committee, for the post of the speaker of the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament, reports Interfax.

Popov once served as the chairman of the House of Representatives. His candidature was also backed by the Slavic Parliamentary Union group.

Siarhey Haydukevich, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, has nominated himself as an alternative candidate. However, he is sceptical about his election. "There is only one decent person in this hall to vote for me: Siarhey Haydukevich," Haydukevich said.