Azerbaijan, Baku, 10 June / Trend corr J. Babayeva/ Fuad Aliyev, Azerbaijan's presidential contender, chairman of the opposition Liberal and Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (LDPA) will hold his elections campaign in air. "As Elections Code has banned sticking agitation papers on walls and private premises, LDPA will use 20 airships and large balloons brought from Turkey," Aliyev said at a press conference in Baku on 10 May.
The Parliament of Azerbaijan passed the Bill on Supplements and Changes into the Election Code on 2 June. According to the Bill, the presidential candidates are prohibited to conduct election campaign in the state-owned TV channels, radios and newspapers, to stick agitation papers on walls and private enterprises, with the term of election campaign being shortened from four months to 75 days. Furthermore, the number of signatures required for the registration of the presidential candidates has been decreased from 45,000 to 40,000. Candidates do not have to make deposits for election campaign. They will only collect signatures. Opposition remained dissatisfied with the supplements and changes.
Azerbaijan will host the presidential elections on 15 October. Musavat party has already nominated its Chairman Isa Gambar, Azerbaijan Democratic Party - Sardar Jalaloglu and the Greens Party nominated Mais Gulaliyev. The head of the public forum Eldar Namazov stands for presidency as an independent candidate. The governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) will nominate country's current President Ilham Aliyev. Bloc Azadlig uniting three opposition parties (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Citizen and Development Party, Liberal Party) intends to boycott the elections.
According to Aliyev, LDPA will make innovations in the elections campaign to achieve success in the upcoming presidential elections. "In order to make the campaign successful, we will definitely follow advice of experts from Turkey, Belgium and Russia," he said.
Aliyev said LDPA plans to cooperate with other opposition parties which announced their intention to participate in the elections.
LDPA was established and registered in 1999.
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