Azerbaijan, Baku, 13 June / Trend M. Aliyev/ The main recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe during plenary session on 13 June was to retain the composition of election committees and to reduce the election campaign term from 4 months to 75 days.
"As no changes were made in formation of election committees, lack of progress in this connection was assessed as a negative point. Parliament's decision to reduce election campaign term, which was made within a short period, may decrease public's awareness of the candidates. To make such changes 3-4 months before elections contradicts with European norms," Sergey Kuznetsov, a representative of the Venice Commission, said from Venice on 13 June.
Kuznetsov said that candidates' agitation via state television had not been previously discussed at the Venice Commission. "That was unexpected for us. Application of the norm must be re-considered," he said.
Since last year Azerbaijan, Venice Commission and the OSCE Bureau for Democratic Institutes and Human Rights have been discussing making amendments in the Election Code of Azerbaijan before presidential elections to take place in October 2008.
The Parliament of Azerbaijan passed the Bill on Supplements and Changes into the Election Code on 2 June. According to the Bill, the presidential candidates are prohibited to conduct election campaign in the state-owned TV channels, radios and newspapers, to stick agitation papers on walls and private enterprises, with the term of election campaign being shortened from four months to 75 days. Furthermore, the number of signatures required for the registration of the presidential candidates has been decreased from 45,000 to 40,000. Candidates do not have to make deposits for election campaign. They will only collect signatures. Opposition remained dissatisfied with the supplements and changes.
Parliament passed a Bill on supplements and changes in the Election Code, with 100 voting for, 3 against and 1 abstained.
Azerbaijan's opposition parties protest against the changes. Opposition thinks election committees must be formed of opposition and authorities on equal basis. According to opposition representatives, current members of election committees (members of the parties representing majority and minority at the Parliament and independent MPs) are under the pressure of the authorities.
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