Azerbaijan’s election body approves candidacy of four presidential candidates
By Aynur Jafarova
The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) has approved the candidacy of Modern Musavat Party leader Hafiz Hajiyev, self-promoted Zahid Oruj, the leader of the National Revival Party Faraj Guliyev and Director of the East - West research center Arastun Orujly for participation in the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
Thus, the number of approved candidates reached 12.
During the CEC meeting held on August 17 under the chairmanship of its head Mazahir Panahov, the plenipotentiary representatives of the parties as well as self - promoted Ilgar Mammadov (Altai) were registered as well.
Panahov said that Gudrat Isagov, nominated on his own initiative, has suggested documents to the CEC for registration as a candidate in the presidential elections.
According to the CEC head, the number of candidates for presidency has reached 15. The approved candidates have received signature lists and started campaign for collection of signatures.
Panahov went on to say that the number of appeals for observation of elections has reached 59 as well.
Earlier, the CEC received documents from 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, the leader of the National Revival Party Faraj Guliyev, director of the East - West research center Arastun Orujly, self - promoted Elshan Hasanov and Ismayil Yusifov.
Furthermore, the CEC earlier approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev, Ahmed Oruj, Ilgar Mammadov (Altai), Igbal Aghazade, Fuad Aliyev, Ali Aliyev, Araz Alizade and Gudrat Hasanguliyev.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on October 9.
According to the Azerbaijani Constitution, the president of Azerbaijan is elected for a five-year term through general, direct and equal elections, by free, private and secret voting.
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.
All candidates should submit necessary documents 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 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.