Azerbaijan, Baku, 9 July / Trend / E.Babyev / The Azerbaijani authorities consider that at least seven or eight candidates will participate in the presidential elections.
"I consider that boycott statements sounded by some parties do not have serious political force. I am sure that seven or eight candidates will participate in the elections," Ali Hasanov, the head of the Public Department of the Azerbaijan President's Administration, told Trend on 9 July.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October.
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party, intends to nominate Ilham Aliyev, its chairman and the current Azerbaijani President. The pro-government Ana Veten and Social Prosperity Parties decided to support Aliyev's candidature in the elections.
Azadlig bloc, uniting three oppositional parties (the Popular Front, the Civil Development and the Liberal party), stated that they would boycott the elections.
So far, the Musavat Party has nominated Isa Gambar, the Azerbaijani Democratic Party (ADP) - Sardar Jaliloglu and the Green Party - Mais Gulaliyev, the Azerbaijani Unified Popular Front Party - Gudrat Hasanguliyev, and Muasir Musavat - Hafiz Hajiyev. However, Eldar Namazov, the head of Social Forum of 'For Azerbaijan' will ballot independently in the elections.
According to Hasanov, most of major political parties confirmed their participation in the presidential elections. "At present, boycott statements are not serious and cannot influence on political palette," Hasanov said.
The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]