Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 7 / Trend A.Huseynbala /
The Azerbaijani opposition parties' proposals to amend the Electoral Code remained unconsidered.
"Although the bill on supplements and amendments to the Electoral Code has been submitted to the parliament prior to the autumn session, the document is still pending consideration, Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) Deputy Chairman Talat Aliyev told Trend .
Movement for Karabakh and the Republic, which represents six opposition parties, established a working group to initiate legislation in mid 2009.
The working group was tasked to develop proposals in connection with introduction of democratic additions and amendments to the Electoral Code and the laws "On political parties", "On freedom of assembly", "On the status of municipalities."
In late September, the working group submitted the bill on supplements and amendments to the Electoral Code to the parliament.
According to Aliyev, six parties represented in the movement submitted the bill. "We offered about 200 supplements and amendments to the Electoral Code. It was agreed to discuss this draft document on the level of leaders of all parties and members of the movement. But we could not get any advice from the parliamentary administration over the draft," Aliyev added.
Musavat party's parliamentary group submitted the bill to the parliament. "When presenting the draft law, we were told that the bill will be tabled at the parliamentary committee on state building and law policy. However, the proposal was not discussed and we have not provided any official information about the fate of the bill," Aliyev added.
Aliyev did not rule out a new initiative for discussion over the additions and changes to the Electoral Code in connection with the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
Movement for Karabakh and Republic was established by Azerbaijani Popular Front, Party of Citizen and Development, Liberal party, Azerbaijani Democratic party, Musavat party, Umid party, as well as several public organizations in the run up to a referendum on supplements and amendments to the Constitution which took place on March 18, 2009.
Musavat Party, which is represented in the Movement for Karabakh and Republic, has committed the Umid Party to withdraw its representatives from the election commissions. Umid Party stated that it will fulfill this requirement if members of Musavat group of MPs give up their mandates. The difference between the two parties caused serious crisis within the movement and the movement suspended its activity.
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party considers that there is no need for major changes to the Electoral Code.
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