Belarus holds parliamentary election as strongman leader keeps grip

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko casts his vote at a polling station during the parliamentary election in Minsk, Belarus November 17, 2019. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko

MINSK (Reuters) - Belarus began voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections that will be closely watched by the West to see how much leeway President Alexander Lukashenko will allow opposition candidates while keeping his grip on power.

Lukashenko, 65, has ruled the east European country with an iron fist for a quarter of a century, but has begun allowing some opposition in a bid to foster ties with the West as relations with Moscow sputter.