Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 16 / Trend , A.Huseynbala/
The Azerbaijani opposition party submitted documents of its initiative group on referendum to the Central Elections Commission (CEC).
"If any problem is not revealed on documents, the CEC should make a decision to present signature lists within five days," Head of Musavat Party Central Executive Body Arif Hajili told Trend on Jan. 16.
Azerbaijan's governing party has launched the New Azerbaijan initiative group. The opposition Musavat party has established the Republicans initiative group. The NAP initiative group submitted signature lists to the CEC for registration on Jan. 14.
The Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, National Unity Movement, Citizen and Development Party, For Azerbaijan public association, Democratic Party, Umid party and several NGOs have established the Civil Movement for the Republic and Garabag initiative group. The Union for Democracy, uniting the Azerbaijan Classic Popular Front Party, Azadlig party, the National Democratic Party, the Great Azerbaijan Party and the People's Party established the People's Republic of Azerbaijan initiative group, as well as the Azerbaijan National Independence Party formed the National Independence initiative group.
Earlier, NAP Deputy Executive Secretary Mubariz Gurbanli told Trend that the opposition initiative groups would be ineffective.
In late December, Azerbaijan's parliament passed a decision to hold a referendum March 18 to amend the Constitution. It was decided to hold a referendum to amend 29 articles in the Constitution.
According to Article 152, the Constitution can only be amended via referendum. Additionally, Article 153 states that if the parliament or president proposes an amendment, the Constitutional Court must reach its own conclusions regarding the proposal before the referendum vote.
The Constitution was adopted in 1995. Amendments and additions were made in 2002.
Hajili said
that if they get signature lists, they will easily collect 40,000 signatures.
Musavat party was founded in Baku in 1911. The party's was re-launched on Nov. 7, 1992. Gambar was elected chief of Musavat party with majority of votes. Isa Gambar, was the former Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament in 1992 to1993 and was nominated for the 2003 presidential elections. The Party is represented by four MPs in the parliament.
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