Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The Union for Democracy of Azerbaijan is planning to hold an opposition forum to make a joint decision on the electoral code, the Chairman of Azadlyg Party represented in the Union, Ahmed Oruj, reported to Trend.
Next year the Presidential elections will take place in Azerbaijan. Therefore, the issue to improve the Electoral Legislation became the topic of discussions. Attended by the representatives of the Venice Commission, the Government of Azerbaijan and all political parties, discussions will take place in November in Baku to make amendments and annexes to the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan.
The opposition parties of Azerbaijan have not a single position on the amendments to the Electoral Code. They make various proposals on the methods of forming the election commissions.
Part of the opposition parties ( Musavat, Azerbaijan National Independence Party, Azerbaijan Democratic Party and other parties) suggests formation of the election commissions on an equal basis. Azadlyg bloc which brings together three parties (Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Azerbaijan Liberal Party, Citizen and Development Party) suggests forming the election commissions from the representatives of the parties which overstepped the 1% barrier in the recent parliamentary elections.
Ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) supports keeping the current composition of the Central Election Commission (The CEC contains 18 seats: 6 representatives of parties which form the majority in Parliament, 6 minority and 6 neutral).
In the near future, the Union for Democracy will prepare its proposals regarding the formation of the election commissions and present them for discussion at the Forum. "The Forum is aimed at reaching a common position of the parties on the formation of the election commissions. A working group has already been established to organize the Forum," Oruj said.
The Union for Democracy brings together three opposition parties, the Azerbaijan Classic Popular Front Party, National Democracy Party and Azadlyg Party.