Azerbaijan, Baku, 17 April /corr. Trend I.Alizade / The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) insists on lessening the period of the pre-election campaign.
"The ruling party would like the period of the pre-election campaign to be decreased from four months to two months. This suggestion was not made to limit the activities of the opposition. The NAP made this initiative to improve and simplify the practice of elections," the Deputy Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament, NAP member Bahar Muradova briefed the media on 17 April.
According to the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan, the pre-election campaign of the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections in Azerbaijan lasts four months. The ruling party has suggested decreasing this period to two months.
The representatives of the opposition have opposed it and they believe that the ruling party wishes to shorten this period for the reason that during the four months they will appear helpless before the opposition candidates for presidency and parliament.
Muradova said that the suggestion of NAP is based on the election experience of Azerbaijan and the experience of developed countries worldwide.
"The ruling party has enough arguments to base its position and suggestion. Therefore, the suggestion of NAP should be taken into consideration during the discussions over amendments and changes to the Electoral Code. It is their work how the opposition assesses this suggestion. We will stand by our suggestion and try to achieve its realization," the Vice Speaker said.
Amendments and changes to the Electoral Code have already been presented to the Parliament.
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