Azerbaijani opposition party supports to allocate funds from public budget for referendum

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 12 / Trend , A.Huseynbala/

An Azerbaijani opposition party supports to allocate more funds from public budget for referendum agitation campaign.

"A total of 28,000 manat was allocated from public budget to every presidential candidates during the elections held in October in 2008. We think at least 50,000 manat should be allocated to referendum agitation groups registered at the Central Election Commission (CEC)," Musavat Party Central Executive Body Head Arif Hajili told Trend on Feb. 12.

Azerbaijan will hold a referendum on March 18 to amend the Constitution.

The CEC registered New Azerbaijan Party, Shahar (City), Tereggi (Progress), Huquq va Demokratiya (Right and Democracy), Vatandash Jamiyyati (Civil Society), For long development and Zaka as agitation initiative groups. Abad Kand (Comfortable village), Azad Soz (Free Word), Azerbaijan People's Republic and Milli Istiglal (National Independence) initiative groups failed to pass registration.

Precinct election commissions registered 124 initiative groups.

The Azerbaijani Constitution was adopted in 1995. Amendments and additions were made in 2002.

Hajili said that if this amount is granted to the registered agitation groups, it will be possible to hold an agitation campaign at high level. "We have not applied to the CEC on this issue, yet. But we think it is not a problem to allocate 50,000 manat taking Azerbaijan's budget opportunities," member of the Musavat Party said.

"If the government does not allocate funds from public budget, the Musavat Party will have less opportunities to hold agitation campaign by own funds," Hajili said. "But it is impossible not to allocate definite funds from public budget. This is also demand of the law."

Musavat was founded in October 1911 in Baku. During the third congress at the Republican Palace in Baku on Nov. 7, 1992, Isa Gambar was elected chairman.  Gambar was the parliamentary speaker in 1992-1993 and presidential candidate during the 2003 elections. The party has four members in parliament.