Minsk, January 27, 2025 – The Europe Today: Incumbent President Aleksandr Lukashenko has declared victory in Belarus’s presidential election, securing an overwhelming 87.6 percent of the vote, according to exit polls released shortly after polling stations closed at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Belarusian state television announced the results, placing Lukashenko far ahead of his closest competitors. Sergei Sirankov, leader of the Belarusian Communist Party, earned 2.7 percent of the vote, while Oleg Gaidukevich, head of the Liberal Democratic Party, received 1.8 percent. Independent candidate Anna Kanapatskaya garnered 1.6 percent, and Alexander Khizhnyak, leader of the Republican Party of Justice and Labor, finished with 1.2 percent.
Notably, 5.1 percent of voters selected the “against all candidates” option, reflecting dissent among the electorate.
The exit poll results were based on responses from 11,948 participants, offering an early indication of the election outcome. Meanwhile, the Central Election Commission reported a robust voter turnout of 81.5 percent as of 6:00 p.m.
Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, is poised to continue his tenure, with these results reinforcing his stronghold in Belarusian politics. The official election results are expected to be announced in the coming days.
