Azerbaijan, Baku, 1 August / Trend corr. E.Babayev / The ruling New Azerbaijan party (NAP) considers groundless the forecasts regarding the small number of opposition candidates and strengthening of burden to boycott. "Today, ten of candidates inform about their participation in the elections and voters will be able to vote for their candidates. Opposition candidates will participate in the elections," MP Aydin Mirzazade, a member of the Political Council of NAP, told Trend .
Azerbaijan will host the presidential elections on 15 October. Bloc Azadlig uniting three opposition parties (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Citizen and Development Party, Liberal Party) intends to boycott the elections. The Citizen Solidarity, Communist and Great Establishment parties will not nominate their candidates for the presidential elections. The Umid party has already nominated its candidate Igbal Agazade, Modern Musavat - Hafiz Hajiyev and Liberal and Democratic party - Fuad Aliyev.
Musavat and Democratic parties will announce their final decision regarding participation in the elections on 2 August. NAP will nominate country's current President Ilham Aliyev
Mirzazade said that the authorities and political parties will not support the forces to choose to boycott the elections. "Azadlig bloc has lost its previous force. Bloc's social basis became weak. Today, bloc managed to keep only its name. Making a decision to boycott the elections the bloc doomed itself to a political collapse. Bloc will not function as an independent centre further. Elections are held neither amongst opposition nor the authorities. Elections are held amongst people wiling to participate in these elections. At present, there are tens of political centres, which have different position regarding the elections," Mirzazade said.
Ali Karimli, the co-founder of the Azadlig bloc and chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, said that the step that we took to boycott the elections have changed its course. "Despite the election campaign was started officially, we cannot feel the election atmosphere in the country at present. Today's key issue to be discussed is to boycott the elections or not. From the other hand, the public supports the decision to boycott the elections, Karimli said.
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