Campaigns kick off for presidential election
The campaigns for Azerbaijan's presidential elections started on
Tuesday.
The decision, passed by the senior electoral body, will go into effect as soon as it is published in state media in the coming days. Election hopefuls will further be able to submit their documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
"We will review the appeals from citizens in the next five days. If a given appeal complies with the law, the applicant will be granted signature papers," the CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov said after a meeting on Monday.
Under recent changes to the Election Code, the campaigns will last 75 days instead of the previous 120 days. 28 days are earmarked for actual campaigns, while the remaining time - for such procedures as registration and approval of candidates and the collection of signatures.
40,000 signatures are required for the registration of candidates instead of the previous 45,000. Registration will continue until the end of August.
Under the changes, the amount of funds raised by presidential nominees was increased 10 times to 10 million manats ($12 million).
Panahov pledged that all candidates would enjoy equal conditions. Three hours of free air time will be granted to election hopefuls for campaigning on Public TV and Radio every week. Moreover, candidates will be able to conduct pre-election propaganda in state-funded print media.
As for promotional posters that appear on nearly all buildings in the capital Baku ahead of elections, Panahov said they could be put up only in places designated by executive authorities.
"Placing such posters on the walls of buildings will not be allowed this time, especially on historical edifices. If a given candidate wants to put them up on private buildings, he will definitely have to get permission from the property owner."
Citizens outside Azerbaijan will be able to cast their ballots only at the embassies and other diplomatic missions abroad.
Under election laws, candidates who fail to gain at least 3% of the popular vote are obliged to repay the funds they received from the state budget for election campaigns. However, none of the presidential election candidates has repaid the amount so far. The CEC chairman said that if any of these persons runs for the forthcoming poll, the government will not pose any obstacles for their participation.
The election commission did not elaborate how much will be spent on the elections.
The election will be held on October 15. The ruling New Azerbaijan Party intends to nominate its chairman, incumbent President Ilham Aliyev. The opposition bloc of three main opposition parties, Azadlig, has said it would boycott the election, while Musavat and the Azerbaijan Democratic Party are still hesitant on their decision.
The Azerbaijani president is elected for a five-year term.
Some local and international observers claim that the pre-election climate in the country is flawed and no equal conditions are provided for all election hopefuls.
A total of 60,000 observers including those from the Council of Europe and the OSCE will monitor the election.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) plans to delegate 480 observers. According to the outcomes of an ODIHR evaluation mission carried out in the country in June, the group suggested sending 30 long-term and 450 short-term observers to the country.
The decision, passed by the senior electoral body, will go into effect as soon as it is published in state media in the coming days. Election hopefuls will further be able to submit their documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
"We will review the appeals from citizens in the next five days. If a given appeal complies with the law, the applicant will be granted signature papers," the CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov said after a meeting on Monday.
Under recent changes to the Election Code, the campaigns will last 75 days instead of the previous 120 days. 28 days are earmarked for actual campaigns, while the remaining time - for such procedures as registration and approval of candidates and the collection of signatures.
40,000 signatures are required for the registration of candidates instead of the previous 45,000. Registration will continue until the end of August.
Under the changes, the amount of funds raised by presidential nominees was increased 10 times to 10 million manats ($12 million).
Panahov pledged that all candidates would enjoy equal conditions. Three hours of free air time will be granted to election hopefuls for campaigning on Public TV and Radio every week. Moreover, candidates will be able to conduct pre-election propaganda in state-funded print media.
As for promotional posters that appear on nearly all buildings in the capital Baku ahead of elections, Panahov said they could be put up only in places designated by executive authorities.
"Placing such posters on the walls of buildings will not be allowed this time, especially on historical edifices. If a given candidate wants to put them up on private buildings, he will definitely have to get permission from the property owner."
Citizens outside Azerbaijan will be able to cast their ballots only at the embassies and other diplomatic missions abroad.
Under election laws, candidates who fail to gain at least 3% of the popular vote are obliged to repay the funds they received from the state budget for election campaigns. However, none of the presidential election candidates has repaid the amount so far. The CEC chairman said that if any of these persons runs for the forthcoming poll, the government will not pose any obstacles for their participation.
The election commission did not elaborate how much will be spent on the elections.
The election will be held on October 15. The ruling New Azerbaijan Party intends to nominate its chairman, incumbent President Ilham Aliyev. The opposition bloc of three main opposition parties, Azadlig, has said it would boycott the election, while Musavat and the Azerbaijan Democratic Party are still hesitant on their decision.
The Azerbaijani president is elected for a five-year term.
Some local and international observers claim that the pre-election climate in the country is flawed and no equal conditions are provided for all election hopefuls.
A total of 60,000 observers including those from the Council of Europe and the OSCE will monitor the election.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) plans to delegate 480 observers. According to the outcomes of an ODIHR evaluation mission carried out in the country in June, the group suggested sending 30 long-term and 450 short-term observers to the country.