What will new President say to Belarusians on New Year’s Eve?

Nyaklyayeu will wish everyone to breathe freely, Hlushakou – not to drink too much, Ramanchuk will urge everyone to join in the reforms, Kastusyou will describe the thesis of his new policy, Sannikau will congratulate people on the new country and Tsyareshchanka will remind that work is the most important thing. The presidential elections will finish before Christmas holidays. ERB has asked presidential contenders what they will say to Belarusians chin-chinning each other if they are elected.

The leader of the “Tell the Truth!” campaign Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu says that he will not try to distract people from celebrating for long. His speech will be limited to a few phrases.
Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu: “I would say to them: “People! We have finally managed to breathe in the air of freedom. Take a deep breath and understand what it means. I congratulate you on freedom, dear Belarusians!”



The main defender of wildlife, the deputy head of the “Greens” party Yury Hlushakou will dedicate his New Year’s speech to the protection of people.

Yury Hlushakou: “I will wish them not to drink much. This is the first thing. Secondly – I will wish them all the best. What else can I say? People should hope for a better future”.

ERB: “So, you will not mention the protection of animals?!”
Yury Hlushakou: “Oh, my! I mentioned the things that should be said in the first place. Of course we should protect animals and plants”.

Economist Yaraslau Ramanchuk has promised not to describe the macroeconomic stabilization to avoid spoiling people’s appetite. He has given a simplified political economy lecture for beginners.

Yaraslau Ramanchuk: “I should say that Belarus has returned on the way of democratization, the way leading to European standards and values. The way where we will have much more justice and responsibility. The way that will lead Belarus to the top-30 of the richest countries in the world. It should not be done with the help of the President; it should be done with the help of the society that will be much more active in conducting reforms”.



Vital Rymasheuski was not ready for ERB’s question. He said the new President would pronounce his greetings only on the eve of 2012.

Vital Rymasheuski: “The first greetings will depend on the way we will live during the first two weeks. They will depend on the situation the country and the Belarusian people will be in”.




According to Ales Mihalevich, the contents of his New Year’s speech will depend on the economic, political and social situation in the country.



The leader of the LDPB Syarhei Haiduckevich has flatly refused to discuss the issue.

Syarhei Haiduckevich: “I am not interested in Internet songs; I am a materially-minded man! I have to prepare the people and to make a good speech. I need people to believe me. Everyone knows me, the whole country!”




The TV speech of the deputy head of the BNF party Ryhor Kastusyou will be brief but well-prepared.

Ryhor Kastusyou: “I will not speak for long, but I will mention the main theses. They will concern new approaches in the economy, politics and the foreign politics of Belarus. And New Year’s greetings will be the most important thing. It is a holiday for people”.



A political observer of “Narodnaya Volya” Andrei Sannikau will also speak about freedom on New Year’s Eve.

Andrei Sannikau: “In the first palace, I would like to congratulate people on the New Year’s Day and a new country. I would guarantee that we would live freely, respect human rights and dignity. And we will try to become a rich European country”.



However, the New Year’s greetings of the head of the Small and Medium Businesses Association Victar Tsyareshchanka will be the most original.

Victar Tsyareshchanka: “I will wish everyone to go back to the fact that work is the most important thing: and the attitude to work should be conscientious. I will wish everyone to relieve social pressure and to trust the executive power. I will wish everyone good health and prosperity not only in the approaching year, but for at least 5 years”.
He added that it was impossible to make impracticable promises to the people. For example, promises to increase wages or to avoid a default.