Who decides the final ballot text when the initiative is put to a vote?
Belarus
ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS (with amendments in 2011)
ElectoralCode of Belarus
Article117. Decision on Appointment of the Referendum
ThePresident of the Republic of Belarus shall take a decision to appoint arepublican referendum on his own initiative or after submission, in accordancewith this Code, of proposals by the Chambers of the National Assembly of theRepublic of Belarus or the citizens for his consideration.
Thedecree of the President of the Republic of Belarus on appointment of thereferendum shall, as a rule, include:
• the date of the referendum;
• the legal force of the decision adopted bythe referendum;
• the wording of the question (questions) putto the referendum;
• other organisational measures required tohold the referendum.
Ifa draft law shall be offered to the referendum, this draft law shall beappended to the decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of theappointment of the referendum.
Thedate of the referendum shall be set not later than three months from the dateof the decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus on appointment of thereferendum.
Thedecree of the President of the Republic of Belarus on appointment of thereferendum, the text of the draft law or the draft of any other decisionoffered for the referendum, shall be published in the press and promulgated throughother mass media in accordance with the procedure established by the Presidentof the Republic of Belarus.
ThePresident of the Republic of Belarus shall have the right to reject theproposal on holding a referendum if it shall fail to comply with therequirements of this Code and other legislative acts of the Republic ofBelarus.
