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Azerbaijan, Baku, 14 July Trend R.Novruzov / The Venice Commission highlights problems in the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan with regards to the formation of election commissions. "Key problem in the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan is to form election commissions," Secretary of the Venice Commission, Gianni Buquicchio, briefed the media in Baku on 14 July. Existing composition of the commissions does not create conditions for equal participation of all candidates, Buquicchio said. |
The parliament of Azerbaijan passed the Bill on Supplements and Changes to the Election Code on 2 June. According to the Bill, the presidential candidates are prohibited to conduct election campaign in state-owned TV channels, radios and newspapers with the term of the election campaign being shortened from four months up to 75 days. Furthermore, the number of signatures require for the registration of the presidential candidates was decreased from 45,000 to 40,000. The oppositional parties, who consider the changes undemocratic, think to boycott elections.
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Buquicchio described the text of the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan 'long and complicated'. According to the Secretary of the Venice Commission, it needs to shorten and simplify it. He highlighted intention to discuss this issue with the Head of the Country. |
Azerbaijan will host the presidential elections on 15 October. Musavat party has already nominated its Chairman Isa Gambar, Azerbaijan Democratic Party - Sardar Jalaloglu, the Greens Party nominated Mais Gulaliyev, the Popular Front Party of Unified Azerbaijan nominated Gudrat Hasanguliyev and Musair Musavat nominated Hafiz Hajiyev. The head of the public forum For Azerbaijan Eldar Namazov stands for presidency as an independent candidate. The governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) will nominate country's current President Ilham Aliyev. Pro-governmental parties Ana Vatan and Social Prosperity Party intend to support Ilham Aliyev at the elections. Bloc Azadlig uniting three opposition parties (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Citizen and Development Party, Liberal Party) intends to boycott the elections.
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