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Some opposition parties of Azerbaijan object to adoption of new â€œLaw on political partiesâ€ â€“ POLL

Some opposition parties of Azerbaijan object to adoption of new â€œLaw on political partiesâ€ â€“ <font color=red> POLL </font>

02 February 2011 09:58 (UTC +04:00)

But we consider that the existing â€œLaw on political partiesâ€ is satisfactory for establishment of the multiparty society and normal functioning of the parties. This law is simply not obeyed,â€ head of the Central Executive Board of Musavat Party Arif Hajili told APA. He said there is no need to adopt new â€œLaw on political partiesâ€ Amendments and annexes can be made to the law.
â€œAmendments and annexes may cover conditions for normal functioning of parties, financing of the parties from the state budget, security of party leaders, place of the opposition parties in the political system,â€ he said.

Arif Hajili said they do not object the adoption of the new law.
â€œAs regards the criteria for financing parties in the bill proposed by YAP, if there was normal, democratic society in Azerbaijan, their proposals could be accepted as normal. Under the present circumstances YAPâ€™s proposal aims to complicate the registration of the parties,â€ he said.

Deputy chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP) Fuad Gahramanli told APA that they do not accept the bill proposed by YAP.
â€œOne of the most dangerous points in these proposals is the re-registration of the parties,â€ he said.
Fuad Gahramanli outlined AXCPâ€™s proposals on the â€œLaw on political partiesâ€.
â€œFirst of all, the issue on financing of the political parties should be solved. Secondly, the partiesâ€™ activities should not be restricted. We do not think that our proposals will be taken into account. At least the existing â€œLaw on political partiesâ€ should not be changed,â€ he said.

Chairman of the Great Establishment Party, MP Fazil Mustafa prepared a bill on political parties and presented it to the parliament several years ago. But the bill was not discussed at the parliament.
â€œUnfortunately, the bill was not considered, though we raised the issue several times,â€ he told APA.
Fazil Mustafa said he can not comment on the bill proposed by YAP, as he was not familiar with it.
â€œBut at first sight there are several moments in the bill that we do not agree to,â€ he said.

Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) Sardar Jalaloglu told APA that the draft law proposed by YAP doesnâ€™t express the interests of political forces in Azerbaijan. He said if the issue is put to vote the political parties not having seats at the parliament should also participate in the discussions.
Jalaloglu said ADP didnâ€™t elaborate the draft law on political parties, but it sent proposals, including proposal on funding of political parties, to the parliament. â€œGenerally we consider that frequent changes of laws weaken their power. There is a winged phrase: law is like a dress, it becomes more suitable with the course of time. Indeed it is possible to observe the present law. For example, there is no need in new point about the state budget-funding of the parties because article 15 of the law on political parties contains the commitments of the parties before the state. It says the state guarantees the partiesâ€™ normal activity, security and other issues. They can finance the parties basing on this point. But the new draft law contains attempt to annul the partiesâ€™ registration and to deprive some parties of the fundingâ€.

Ruling New Azerbaijan Party has several packages of proposals about the adoption of the law on political parties. YAPâ€™s deputy executive secretary Siyavush Novruzov told APA that the first package is about the legal qualification of the parties and their re-registration. YAP proposes the parties to be re-registered. It needs to collect signatures of 0.1 percent or 5000 voters. It is proposed to collect signatures in 5%+1 of 125 constituencies in the country. YAP made proposals about the funding of political parties as well.