Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19
By Elchin Mehdiyev – Trend:
Social base of Azerbaijani opposition is equal to zero, Ali Ahmadov, deputy prime minister and deputy chairman-executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, has said.
“Everyone is already accustomed to this reality, so any unsuccessful attempt of the opposition shouldn’t be a surprise,” Ahmadov told Trend Sept. 19 commenting on the opposition’s unsuccessful rally on the eve of the upcoming referendum in Azerbaijan.
“Some opposition circles’ speaking against the referendum can be seen as an attempt to go against the stream,” said Ahmadov. “Against the backdrop of the great trust in the president’s initiative, it is impossible to describe the attempts of campaigning against the referendum in another way, especially when this is done by an opposition group that has completely lost its social base.”
“The current opposition is nothing more than a paltry inactive group which has lost all political resources and prospects,” said the official.
He also touched upon the issues to which the ‘National Council’ paid more attention during the rally instead of the referendum or the proposed amendments to the constitution.
“Perhaps, the ‘National Council’ considered it a very promising tactical move to discuss the economic and social problems under the pretext of protesting the referendum,” said Ahmadov. “The failed rally showed that they are wrong as always. Even the small-numbered supporters of the opposition see the rally as an entertainment.”
The deputy prime minister pointed out that people expect the settlement of the economic and social problems not from the opposition, but from the authorities.
“Azerbaijani president’s strategy of new economic and social reforms has entered its active phase. No one doubts that the results will be seen soon,” said Ahmadov.
“The referendum, which envisages important political reforms, is aimed at completing the president’s program of reforms. People believe in positive results of these reforms and in this aspect, the opposition’s remarks on economic and social problems lack sincerity and no one wants to listen to them,” he added.
Azerbaijan’s greatest wealth is its continuous and sustainable stability, Ahmadov added.