188.1. Refusal of a political party or bloc of political parties to participate in the Presidential Elections may not be a basis for refusing candidacy or cancelling registration of the presidential candidates.

188.2. A political party, which is a member of a bloc of political parties, may refuse to participate in the elections as a member of this bloc, by submitting an application to the Central Election Commission with the relevant decision of the authorized body of the relevant political party, any time at least 10 days prior to Election Day.

188.3. A political party, which refuses to participate in elections as a member of a bloc of political parties, may act as an independent political party or join another bloc of political parties in accordance with the rules established by this Code.

188.4. if all but one political party in a bloc of political parties refuses to participate in elections after the presidential candidate nominated by the afore-mentioned bloc of political parties has been registered by the Central Election Commission, the remaining political party may participate in the elections as a bloc of political parties, keeping name and symbols of the bloc. This shall not serve as a ground for refusal or cancellation of registration of presidential candidates.

188.5. The refusal of a bloc of political parties to participate in elections shall not deprive political parties included in the bloc of rights to participate in elections. in such cases, it shall be required to re-nominate a presidential candidate and to implement other necessary election actions in conformity with this Code.