Election body registers sixth presidential candidate
By Aynur Jafarova
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan approved the candidacy of chairman of Liberal - Democratic Party Fuad Aliyev and Citizens and Development Party leader Ali Aliyev for participation in the 2013 presidential elections.
Thus, the number of registered candidates reached six.
The meeting chaired by CEC Head Mazahir Panahov also approved the plenipotentiary representatives of these candidates.
Panahov said that director of the East - West research center Arastun Orujly also submitted documents to the CEC for participation in the upcoming presidential elections.
He went on to say that the registration of observers for participation in the elections has already started. To date, 37 persons have applied for participation in the elections as observers and they will be given appropriate certification in the near future.
In total, the CEC received documents from 11 candidates, including chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, chairman of the Azadlig Party Ahmed Oruj, Citizens and Development Party leader Ali Aliyev, Liberal - Democratic Party leader Fuad Aliyev, lawyer, self - promoted Ilgar Mammadov (Altai), chairman of the Umid Party Igbal Aghazade, leader of the United People's Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, Social - Democratic Party chairman Araz Alizade, Modern Musavat Party leader Hafiz Hajiyev, self - promoted Zahid Oruj and the leader of the National Revival Party Faraj Guliyev.
Earlier, the CEC approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev, Ahmed Oruj, Ilgar Mammadov (Altai) and Igbal Aghazade.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on October 9.
Azerbaijani citizens who have the right of election, an initiative group of electors, political parties and blocs of political parties have the right to nominate candidates.
The documents of the candidates are to be submitted to the CEC from August 20 to September 9.
A candidate who gets a signature list should return it within a week and after that the CEC will solve the issue regarding his/her official registration.
The official election campaign will begin 23 days before the election. It will take place from September 19 to October 8.
Free airtime and space for publications will be allocated for registered presidential candidates as part of the pre-election campaign. Free air time will be allocated to the candidates on Public Television and Radio Broadcasting company, while space for publications will be provided in Azerbaijan, Khalq Gazeti, Respublika and Bakinskiy Rabochiy newspapers.
If other broadcasters and periodicals decide to allocate paid air time and space for publication within the pre-election campaign, they are required to notify the CEC. Information about the conditions and payment is to be published no later than 35 days after the official announcement of the decision to schedule the elections.