Azerbaijan, Baku, 11 March / Trend corr. K.Ramazanova / The Venice Commission will pass on draft project of the joint conclusion on changes in the Election Code of Azerbaijan. The document will be considered during the 74th plenary session of the Commission in Italy on 14 and 15 March.
Discussions to improve the Election Code of Azerbaijan are held on the threshold of the presidential election scheduled for 2008. The new version of the Election Code was submitted to the Parliament of Azerbaijan
The round table with participation of representatives of Venice commission, OSCE, Government and for the first time with the participation of representatives of the opposition parties of Azerbaijan was held in Baku in early November. The parties discussed issues concerning the composition of the election commissions and the appeal of decisions connected with the election process.
Under the current Election Code of Azerbaijan, appeals are considered by high-ranking election commissions and courts. Venice commission representatives propose to reduce the term to consider the appeals.
There were plans to complete the development of the Election Code by autumn. However, the process was delayed due to the situation with the opposition parties in connection with the composition of election commissions. Azadlig bloc, who unites three opposition parties, has submitted a set of proposals to the Venice commission on amendments and additions to the Election Code of Azerbaijan. The document touched upon forming election commissions on a parity basis.