Azernews.Az

A new environment emerged in Azerbaijan`s political discourse following the October 15 presidential elections, a senior official said.
Ali Hasanov, head of the President`s Office socio-political department, said that where political parties and the authorities, as a rule, dwelled on the spirit of staunch radicalism during previous elections, "a different political line is now being demonstrated, in a certain sense."
"During the latest elections, an alternative to the opposition seeking to arduously boycott the process and thus considerably influence political developments emerged. This alternative was opposition candidates who, while running for the elections, were trying to form a certain social palette by drawing to their side the forces in society that do not support the authorities," Hasanov said.
These nominees, he said, put forth "a spirit of constructivism against the previous spirit of radicalism."
Hasanov believes that the participation of these forces in elections, and the opposition candidates` subsequently congratulating the winner, had laid the groundwork for a new political culture in the country.
According to Hasanov, the traditional opposition will be outside the authorities-opposition dialog that will be an increasing reality in the future. "They are having to bid farewell to politics, and their place is being taken by new, contemporary parties and forces meeting public demands."
Hasanov emphasized, however, that the developments cannot be construed as the authorities` attempt to create a new opposition. "Actually, this is a search of society itself for a new institute of public opposition."