Azerbaijan , Baku / Тrend corr I. Alizadeh / The deputy executive secretary of the governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), MP Mubariz Gurbanly, stated during a meeting of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) on 22 May, that weekly discussions on current affairs held in the parliament should be abolished.
Gurbanly noted that MPs that have the right to suggest legislative initiatives and could do it from corresponding commissions of the parliament.
"However, the MPs that speak here are not engaged in activities of the commissions. It mainly refers to opposition MPs. Their speeches are intended for their own popularization in the press. For this reason discussions named 'current affairs' should be completely closed down," Gurbanly said.
The chairman of the opposition Great Establishment Party, Fazil Gazanfaroghlu, replied that each MP had the right to popularize his ideas in the media and no one was allowed to restrict these activities.
MP Jamil Hasanly also protested against Gurbanly's speech and noted that, "If anybody has nothing to say he should sign up for a speech. At the same time they should hinder the MPs wishing to speak."