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Azerbaijan Opposition Party’s Chairman Backs Reduction of Election Period

Politics Materials 27 August 2007 17:52 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / The Chairman of the Civil Solidarity Party (CSP), Sabir Rustamkhanly, is backing the reduction of the election period, he reported to Trend on 27 August.

The Deputy Chairman and the Executive Secretary of the governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), Ali Ahmadov, suggested reducing the election campaign in Azerbaijan from four months to two months, in line with international practice.

In accordance with Article 8.1 of the Election Code, elections are announced 120 days before the voting day. Article 75.2 says that election campaign begins 60 days before the voting and ends 24 hours before the voting.

In Rustamkhanly's opinion, four months is too much for an election process. Elections in Azerbaijan are held once or twice a year, and it would be inexpedient to spend half of a year for elections. A more favourable term is required for preparation for elections.

The election campaign is an important process for the candidates in whom they have great opportunities, they get access to the press and they are provided with the right of immunity of a candidate. All this enables the candidates to inform the electorate of their plans, the Rustamkhanly said. "The election campaign is one of democratization. From this standpoint the election campaign changes the general atmosphere in a country," he said.

Sabir Rustamkhanly, the Chairman of the opposition Civil Solidarity Party (CSP), is an MP. In 2003, he ran for presidency.

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