BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 18. Consistent measures are being taken in Azerbaijan to improve the political system in line with modern challenges and national interests, deepen the process of inter-party dialogue and build relations in this area in a new configuration at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Ministry of Justice told Trend.
According to the ministry, for this purpose a new bill regulating the activities of political parties was prepared and adopted based on the study of international experience, after extensive public discussions,
The law "On political parties", being another manifestation of the ongoing democratic reforms in Azerbaijan, serves to effectively establish the activities of political parties, create a healthier political climate and expand mutually beneficial dialogue between political forces.
Under the new law, a political party must have at least 5,000 members. The register of members must be submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
In this regard, the ministry has taken appropriate measures to bring normative legal acts in line with the new law.
Since enforcement of this law, 31 parties have announced the voluntary termination of their activities. The adoption of these decisions is related to the comprehensive successful reforms carried out at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, encouraged by political dialogue, the established atmosphere of political stability and national solidarity, as well as the liberation of the lands of Azerbaijan as a result of victory in the 2020 second Karabakh war.
The other 27 political parties submitted to the Ministry of Justice a register of their members, indicating their names, surnames, patronymics, date of birth, registration address, local party organization in which they are registered, and contact telephone number.
During the inspection of the register of party members for compliance with the requirements of the legislation in accordance with with the law "On political parties" by the ministry, a number of shortcomings (such as the inclusion in the register of persons who are not members of the party, the deceased, the repetition of the names of some persons, and so on) were identified in some of them.
In this regard, the parties were provided with relevant information, and were required to eliminate the shortcomings identified in the register within the time limits established by law.
At the same time, the Ministry of Justice continues activities in this area, it is reported that it is ready to hold meetings with parties in order to provide them with the necessary assistance to eliminate the shortcomings.
In January 2023, President Ilham Aliyev approved the law "On political parties", according to which a political party in Azerbaijan must be established by at least 50 fully able-bodied citizens. For state registration of a party, the number of its members must be at least 5,000.
Moreover, if the number of party members during the period of its activity drops below 4,500, then this is the basis for the liquidation of its state registration. A political party can decide on its own to terminate its activities. According to the law, one person can be a member of only one party. At the same time, foreigners and stateless persons cannot be members of political parties in Azerbaijan.