Belarus votes in elections

MINSK

Strongman Alexander Lukashenko was set to keep his forces in power yesterday as Belarus elected a Parliament in polls the united opposition refused to recognize even before they closed.

With the man branded Europe’s last dictator keen to show off his democratic credentials and avoid a re-run should turnout dip below 50 percent, a barrage of state TV spots urged citizens to cast their ballots. But despite the state message polling stations looked empty, and even the head of Central Election Committee admitted voting was “weak,” confirming the lack of interest in a process in which most candidates already work for the state. Most opposition groups called for a boycott.