Azernews.Az

The decision of several Azerbaijani political parties not to stand in the next presidential election allows to set up a new coalition in the opposition camp, the main opposition bloc, Azadlig, and the Musavat Party, said in a statement.
Azadlig, which comprises the country`s three opposition parties, said early this year it was boycotting the October 15 vote, while Musavat announced the boycott decision last Saturday. The latest statement comes as a surprise given that the bloc and the party have been facing major tension.
Musavat leader Isa Gambar said Azerbaijan`s leading opposition parties had already viewed the upcoming election as "a game".
"From now on, the focus will be not on participation in the elections but on boosting cooperation within the opposition. New ideas on such cooperation may come to the fore over a week`s time," he said.
Azadlig co-chairman Ali Karimli said he had already outlined the priorities of cooperation for himself.
"Opposition parties not to take part in the elections have mainly split into two camps. One of them is those boycotting the poll, while the other, although it will not stand in the elections, is refraining from the boycott tactics. Azadlig will cooperate only with forces that adhere to the boycott tactics."
Karimli further suggested that boycotting opposition blocs should sign a document saying they consider the outcome of the election illegitimate beforehand.
Besides Azadlig and Musavat, the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP), the Classic Popular Front and Great Establishment Parties have refused to stand in the poll but some of them are using a different tactics.
Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP), Sardar Jalaloglu, said his party was not interested in cooperation with Azadlig. "Our paths have diverted as we chose a new political course, and we have no intention to change it. We believe that Azerbaijan`s development hinges on the authorities-opposition dialog."
Jalaloglu said ADP would state after the election whether or not it recognized the outcome of the election.
The spokesman for the US embassy in Baku, Terry Davidson, said his government had always supported participation in elections. He expressed hope for the broadest participation of political forces in the poll.
"Democracy should develop in the conditions of diversity of views. But again, they are the ones making the decision to participate, not us."
Some analysts link the boycott with the opposition`s slim chances to win the election.
"The current state of existing parties, lack of personal qualities of their leaders and dire financial constraints fostered a ground for the opposition to take this step," president of local Constitutional Research Foundation, Alimammad Nuriyev, told AzerNEWS.
He said the opposition had passed the boycott decision considering that its key opponent stands by far a greater chance of gaining votes at the polls.
"But it should be taken into account that the immediate goal of political parties is to gain opportunities to materialize their ideas, as promised, by participating in the electoral process. It is very disappointing that our political parties are reluctant to struggle for the main branches of power," Nuriyev said.
Seven hopefuls have nominated their candidacies for the elections so far. These include Sayad Sayadov from the United Azerbaijan Communist Party, Igbal Aghazada from Umid (Hope) Party, Fuad Aliyev from the Liberal-Democratic Party, and Hafiz Hajiyev from Muasir (Modern) Musavat. The leaders of the Green Party, Mais Gulaliyev, and the Whole Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Gudrat Hasanguliyev, will run as well.
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party has nominated its chairman, incumbent President Ilham Aliyev.