Azerbaijan, Baku, 18 April / Trend corr. I.Alizade / The ruling New Azerbaijan party (NAP) has demanded the funds to finance the election campaign of candidates during the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections be increased.
"The Election Code of Azerbaijan prohibits spending over $1mln for the election campaign of the candidate to the presidential post. We cannot hold a pre-election campaign for $1mln in accordance with international standards,' MP Siyavush Novruzov, Deputy Executive Secretary of NAP stated to Trend .
NAP official representative stated that there was a need to introduce changes to the financing of the election campaign in the Election Code.
The Azerbaijani Government held negotiations with the Venice Commission of Council of Europe for several years to improve the Election Code. The amendments and supplements to the Election Code were developed and submitted to Parliament.
However, Government did not accept several points proposed by the Venice Commission, in particular to change the framework of election commissions. The opposition also does not agree with the amendments. The opposition members have demanded that the election commission be form on a parity basis with the participation of the authorities and opposition representatives.
Novruzov said that MPs cannot spend more than $70,000 or $80,000 during the election campaign under the Election Code. "As air time demands $70,000 or $80,000, candidates have to finance their campaigns illegally during the presidential and parliamentary elections. We should increase the finance allocation in order to prevent illegal action taking place," MP added.