Top Azerbaijani official: Presidential candidates must comply with rules of conduct during debates

Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 20 / Trend E. Mehdiyev /

The presidential candidates' actions, behavior, expressions and attitude towards each other must be an example, Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Social and Political Department Ali Hasanov told Trend today.

He was commenting on the negative aspects during the recent televised debates of the presidential candidates on the country's public television.

"Each of the candidates claims for the presidency and is keen to achieve it," he said. "Therefore, presidential candidates must comply with the rules of conduct. People expect this."

"In general, the incident that has happened is unacceptable from the point of view of the election campaigning," Hasanov said.

"This cannot be considered a good thing for Azerbaijan's image," Hasanov added.

He went on to note that people watch the televised speeches of presidential candidates.

"They want to know what they can expect in the coming years and the presidential candidates' alternative projects and proposals. People are waiting for concrete proposals, projects and ideas which can contribute to the development. The public gets disappointed when the candidates mutually accuse each other, and lay down unfounded discrediting evidence towards each other on TV," Hasanov underscored, adding that the authorities do not intend to interfere in such matters.

During the recent televised debates in Azerbaijan with participation of all presidential candidates two candidates got into a heavy word fight, as a result of which, both candidates were taken off the debating.

Hasanov said that looking at the actions of the candidates during the debates one can see certain drawbacks in other candidates as well.

He went on to say that the electoral process and the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan are fully normal, they meet international standards and allow holding free, fair and democratic elections.