An election as a hope in Belarus. Sunday, Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country for 26 years, is vying for a fifth term. But this time, an unexpected opposition, new to politics, challenges the strong man of the country. Her name is Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa and there was nothing destined for her to become a candidate in the Belarusian presidential election. An English teacher by training, mother of two and 37 years old, the young woman mobilizes the crowds and finally embodies a change for the country of 9.5 million inhabitants.
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Opponent under pressure
The life of "Svet", as her supporters call her, turned upside down when her blogger husband was arrested at the end of May. Lukashenko did not appreciate that Sergei Tikhanovsky called him a "cockroach". Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa demands her release and claims to run for the presidency "out of love".
To embody a structured and united opposition, she allied herself with two other women: Veronika Tsepkalo, the companion of an opponent in exile, and Maria Kolesnikova, the campaign manager of Viktor Babaryko, a former banker imprisoned while he wanted to introduce himself. They face multiple pressures from the authorities, while two candidates for this election are already imprisoned and another in exile.
An atypical profile
Yet described as "poor girl" by Lukashenko, the new candidate immediately appealed to Belarusian society by virtue of her atypical profile. "This candidate embodies modernity, she is a woman like any other, mother of two children, who embodies change", decrypts Olga Belova, professor of political science at the University of Bordeaux.
A few days before a traditionally rigged ballot according to all observers, Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa represents a hope. In case of victory, she promised to stay in power only long enough to free "political prisoners", organize constitutional reform and new elections. It will still be possible to dislodge the strong 65-year-old man, jealously clinging to power. Some 2,056 violations of the electoral code have already been observed Tuesday by observers, on the first day of early voting. France, Germany and Poland on Friday called on the outgoing president to ensure a "free and fair" presidential election.