Azernews.Az

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe supports expanding the capacities of candidates running in elections, Bilge Cankorel, head of the OSCE Office in Baku, has said. He was commenting on the draft law on election law changes recently proposed for the agenda of Azerbaijan’s parliament.
Two amendments are mainly proposed to the Electoral Code. One of them calls for reducing the term of pre-election campaigns to 60 days from the current 75 days. The other proposal pertains to removing from the Code the provisions on allocating state funds to election hopefuls.
Cankorel told reporters that discussions will be held on the issue with representatives of the government and local political parties.
"We support debates on the issue. I did not fully understand the reason for the envisioned amendments. In meetings I will enquire about the reasons and needs for this, and will try to clarify the matter. We wish for not restrictive changes, but ones that would expand the potential [of candidates] and suit everyone."
Cankorel added that the authorities had not discussed the proposed changes with the OSCE beforehand.*