Azerbaijan, Baku, 16 May /corr. Trend E.Babayev / The leading opposition parties of Azerbaijan considers that the single opinion on changes to the Electoral Code will not be a stimulus for unification of the opposition.
"Single opinion on changes to the Electoral Code will not cause strategic partnership," Sardar Jalaloglu, candidate for presidency, Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Party, reported to Trend on 16 May.
On the eve of the Presidential elections which will tale place in October, the Government of Azerbaijan and Venice Commission submitted the Parliament two projects on additions and changes to the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan. The projects were devised by Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration and commissions of the Parliament. The Parliament did not discuss the projects presented by the opposition.
The list of suggested additions and changes to the Electoral Code contains items envisaging ban on free-of-charge agitation of the candidates for presidency in official press, hanging up agitation materials on housing buildings. It caused indignation of the opposition.
Jalaoglu considers that presenting single candidate from opposition may be dangerous. "According to the changes to the Electoral Code, the candidature may be cancelled even due to a simple administrative fault. If single candidate is put forward and his/her candidature is cancelled, the opposition will stay away from the elections," Jalaloglu said.
The Head of the Central Executive Apparat of opposition Musavat Party, Arif Hajili, the single opinion on changes to the Electoral Code can not bring to unification in a single team and nomination of a single candidate from the opposition. "Opinions in the opposition camp regarding participation in the presidential elections are different. I think that unification of opposition may take place within democratic reforms. However, it does not mean nomination of a single candidate from opposition," Hajili said.
Unifying three opposition parties (Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Azerbaijan Liberal Party and Civil and Development Party), Azadlyg bloc considers that the single opinion on changes to the Electoral Code can not cause nomination of a single candidate from the opposition. The Chairman of Civil and Development Party, Ali Aliyev, reported to Trend that single opinion of opposition on democratic reforms seems more probable. "Yet the issue of nomination of a single candidate from the opposition is not real," Aliyev said.
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