Azerbaijan, Baku, 26 May /corr. TrendNews E.Babayev / Unlikely the protests of opposition will be taken into consideration during parliamentary discussions on amendments and additions to the Election Code. "Most probably the Parliament will adopt amendments and additions if any emergency situation does not take place," the member of Musavat Group of MPs, Panah Huseyn, told Trend on 26 May.
The additions and changes to the Election Code will be discussed in the Azerbaijani parliament at the late May. The draft on the changes includes ban on the canvassing in the state-owned media sources, and rise in the deposit account of the candidates from AZN33,000 to AZN300,000. The terms for the signature collection has been shortened from 35 days up to 10 days, cancellation of candidate's registration was eased as a result of the changes to the Code of Administrative Violations. These changes have caused discontent in the opposition.
Huseyn said that the changes will further deteriorate the situation. "Adopting changes will increase dissatisfaction of the opposition due to pre-election situation in Azerbaijan," the MP said, adding that during the discussions, opposition will seriously protest against rise in the deposit account of the candidates from AZN 33,000 to AZN 300,000, cancellation of candidate's registration was eased as a result of the changes to the Code of Administrative Violations. "We have devised a project. Despite that this project was discussed at the meeting of the Parliamentary Commission on Legal Policy and State Establishment, it was not adopted for being discussed by the Parliament. However, it does not mean that the project was not discussed. We will make all efforts for its discussions," he said.
Mubariz Gurbanli, the deputy executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party said to Trend that the opposition's claims are groundless. The changes serve democratization of election atmosphere and are based on international experience. "We regards to reduction in the period of pre-election campaign, we will insist on this process. No country allocates 120 days for the pre-election campaign," Gurbanli said.
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