Equality party boycotted the early presidential elections of Azerbaijan

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, the opposition party of Eqavan has decided in not to participate in the early presidential elections that will be held on February 7, 2024.

On December 15, a decision was made in this regard at the meeting of the Party Council.

He believes that the election commissions are also under the supervision of the government. This issue questions the objectivity of the elections. In addition, we, as the Equality Party, requested that when the elections are announced, there should be a certain calm, political prisoners should be released, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and thought should be ensured. However, the actions of the Azerbaijani authorities showed that they do not intend to make positive changes. According to Hajili, if there are positive changes in the short term, the Equality Party can reconsider its decision. .

Equality Party believes that: the government of Azerbaijan, by making a sudden election decision without any public discussion, gave the opportunity for political opponents and those who want change in the country to prepare for the elections. At the meeting of the Equality party, it was also discussed about the arrest of Tawfiq Yaqoblo, a member of the party and the National Council, and Hafiz Babali, an employee of “Toran” news agency, and it was announced that the arrest of Tawfik Yaqoblo It is a repressive measure to put pressure on the Equality Party and the opposition in general, as well as create fear in the society.

In recent weeks, more than 10 journalists have been arrested in the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Hafez Babali, an employee. Turan News Agency has been condemned as the continuation of the suppression of freedom of speech and media in this country. The opposition parties demanded the release of all the political prisoners and journalists who were arrested.

Equality Party supported the candidacy of Isa Qanbar, the then head of the party, in the 2003 elections. This party boycotted the 2008 elections and in 2013 supported the candidate of the National Council unit, Jamil Hasanli. The country is prepared.

The authorities of this country do not comment on the presence of political prisoners in the Republic of Azerbaijan and say that the election commissions are not under the control of the authorities.

The early presidential elections of Azerbaijan coincide with the restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty in Karabakh. In addition, the reasons for announcing early presidential elections have not yet been officially announced.

According to the current law, commissions in the Republic of Azerbaijan are formed based on the one-third principle.

One ​​third of the seats belong to the ruling party, one third to the minority parties in the parliament and the remaining one third to the neutrals. However, according to the emphasis of the opposition parties, in fact, this division is of a ceremonial nature.

But the representatives of the minority party in the parliament and neutrals consider such an assessment unfounded.

So far, only the ruling party “New Azerbaijan” has announced its candidate for the early presidential elections. Their candidate is the head of that party, the current president Elham Aliyev.

According to the constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the president of Azerbaijan is elected for a period of 7 years based on general, equal and direct vote and through free voting. , is chosen personally and secretly.

According to the “Election Law”, any citizen or citizens with the right to vote can create an initiative group consisting of at least 100 people to nominate a presidential candidate. Presidential candidates are announced after the official publication of the decision on the election.

A political party, block of political parties or initiative groups of voters must obtain at least 40,000 voter signatures to defend the candidate who They have nominated for the presidency, collect.

It should be noted that the last presidential election of Azerbaijan was held on April 11, 2018. According to this law, the next presidential election was supposed to be held in 2025.

The elected representatives, due to their closeness to the government, accelerated the elections with the changes happening in the world and kept Azerbaijan’s interests explained.

Some opposition parties call it “sudden elections” and declare that the government is not ready for a competitive and civil struggle.

The last presidential (2018) and parliamentary (2020) elections of Azerbaijan were also held ahead of schedule.

The authorities explained this issue to speed up reforms.

The opposition claims that no real reforms have been carried out in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

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