Changes to Azerbaijan’s election laws enacted
Azerbaijan’s parliament approved a draft law on changes to the
country’s election laws on Friday.
The amendments, proposed by a group of lawmakers from the governing Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party (YAP), called for reducing the duration of the electoral process to 60 days from the current 75 days, and removing from the Electoral Code the provisions on state funding for election hopefuls. The bill was passed by a 103-3 vote following a debate among the lawmakers.
YAP Executive Secretary, MP Ali Ahmadov said the amendments aim to improve elections and increase their efficiency, and to bring them into compliance with international standards.
But Panah Huseyn, an opposition lawmaker, believes the electoral changes restrict voters’ rights.
Vice-Speaker Bahar Muradova, while addressing the opponents of the amendments, cited Denmark’s experience as an example. "The term of elections in this country is two weeks, and no one thinks about this term’s being too short."*
The amendments, proposed by a group of lawmakers from the governing Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party (YAP), called for reducing the duration of the electoral process to 60 days from the current 75 days, and removing from the Electoral Code the provisions on state funding for election hopefuls. The bill was passed by a 103-3 vote following a debate among the lawmakers.
YAP Executive Secretary, MP Ali Ahmadov said the amendments aim to improve elections and increase their efficiency, and to bring them into compliance with international standards.
But Panah Huseyn, an opposition lawmaker, believes the electoral changes restrict voters’ rights.
Vice-Speaker Bahar Muradova, while addressing the opponents of the amendments, cited Denmark’s experience as an example. "The term of elections in this country is two weeks, and no one thinks about this term’s being too short."*
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