Azerbaijan, Baku, 23 May / Trend News corr. E.Babayev / The opposition Adalat party has changed its position regarding participation in the upcoming presidential elections. "Those who support participation in the elections consider that if the current version of the Election Code will be passed then we will not participate in the elections," Mutallim Rahimli, Deputy Chairman of the party, stated to Trend on 23 May.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October 2008. The draft of amendments and supplements into the Election Code will be discussed in the Parliament in end of May. The draft of amendments includes shortening the time allotted for the collection of signatures and canvassing, increase in the registration deposit of the candidate from AZN 33,000 to AZN300,000, simplification of the procedures of liquidation candidate's registration and ban on the election campaign in the state-owned TV channel. These amendments caused dissatisfaction amongst the opposition camp.
Rahimli said that the party was waiting the decision by the Parliament. "Today, the situation is changed profoundly. If the Parliament will pass the draft of amendments and supplements into the Election Code then there will be no sense to participate in the elections," Rahimli said.
Adalat Party was founded in 1993. In 1996, the party joined a different opposition party, the Democratic Party. However, in 2000 Adalat was then re-established by separating from the Democratic Party. MP Ilyas Ismaylov has been the chairman of the party since 2001. Ismaylov was a candidate for the presidential post during the elections in 2003.
Fazail Gazanfaroglu, Chairman of the opposition Great Establishment party, stated to Trend that if the amendments and supplements will be adopted into the Election Code then we will boycott the elections.
Bahar Muradova, Vice Speaker of the Parliament, stated to Trend that the boycott process would not affect the results of the elections. As, the opposition has no authority amongst the population.
Isa Gambar, leader of Musavat party, Sardar Jalaloglu, chairman of Democratic party and Mais Gulaliyev, Chairman of Green party of Azerbaijan, have nominated their candidature to the presidential post. Eldar Namazov, a political scientist and Leader of the Public Forum For Azerbaijan will nominate his candidature as an independent candidate. The candidature of Ilham Aliyev will be nominated from the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party. The Azadlig bloc, which unites three opposition parties -Popular Front party, Liberal party and Citizen and Development party, is to boycott the upcoming presidential elections.
The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]
