Azeri MP offers to postpone parliament poll
A lawmaker from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party has suggested
postponing the parliamentary election due in 2010.
Aydin Hasanov said in parliament Friday that hefty funds have been allocated from the state budget to conduct the vote, opining that spending so much on elections is unnecessary at a time of an economic crisis.
Hasanov recalled the amendments introduced to the country’s laws on prosecutor’s office and the Ombudsman, as well as the Constitution, suggesting tabling legislative polls in Azerbaijan until its Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with Armenia is resolved.
"As a country that is in a state of war, we can amend laws. I am now offering to postpone parliament elections. Various proposals are made here [in parliament] on meeting the people’s social needs. So, let the 50 million manats [$62.5 million] designated for the elections be spent on social security of the population," the MP said.
Hasanov said in conclusion that the lawmakers currently represented in parliament are the worthiest sons of their nation.
The statement was met by lawmakers with an ironic round of applause.
Under Azerbaijan’s Constitution, if military operations disallow holding parliamentary elections, the credentials of the Milli Majlis standing composition are to be extended pending the end of warfare. The decision is passed by the Constitutional Court based on an appeal from the government agency in charge of holding elections.
The last parliamentary election took place in 2005. The next vote will be held in the fall of 2010.*
Aydin Hasanov said in parliament Friday that hefty funds have been allocated from the state budget to conduct the vote, opining that spending so much on elections is unnecessary at a time of an economic crisis.
Hasanov recalled the amendments introduced to the country’s laws on prosecutor’s office and the Ombudsman, as well as the Constitution, suggesting tabling legislative polls in Azerbaijan until its Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with Armenia is resolved.
"As a country that is in a state of war, we can amend laws. I am now offering to postpone parliament elections. Various proposals are made here [in parliament] on meeting the people’s social needs. So, let the 50 million manats [$62.5 million] designated for the elections be spent on social security of the population," the MP said.
Hasanov said in conclusion that the lawmakers currently represented in parliament are the worthiest sons of their nation.
The statement was met by lawmakers with an ironic round of applause.
Under Azerbaijan’s Constitution, if military operations disallow holding parliamentary elections, the credentials of the Milli Majlis standing composition are to be extended pending the end of warfare. The decision is passed by the Constitutional Court based on an appeal from the government agency in charge of holding elections.
The last parliamentary election took place in 2005. The next vote will be held in the fall of 2010.*
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