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Why is Azerbaijanâ€™s opposition weak? - POLL

Why is Azerbaijanâ€™s opposition weak?<font color=red> - POLL</font>

04 March 2008 12:02 (UTC +04:00)

But if all the conditions are restricted for the opposition, it should not be blamed for the current situation,â€ asked why Azerbaijanâ€™s opposition is weak, leader of National Unity Movement Lala Shovkat Hajiyeva told APA. She said that the opposition operated in hard conditions.
â€œIf the opposition exists even in these circumstances and has its say, it means the opposition is strong enough,â€ she said.
Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) Sardar Jalaloglu said the opposition weakened in every election, but the opposing forces would mobilize before the elections.
â€œThos, who think that the opposition is weak will be wrong. 10-15 minutes of air time is enough for us to do the five-year work of the authorities. There is no serious backwardness in the opposition. This camp cannot contact the people, the parties have no financial means. Legal and political terms for the opposition to demonstrate its power are unsuitable,â€ he said.
Chairman of Musavat Party Isa Gambar refused to participate in the poll, chairman of the assembly of Musavat Party Sulhaddin Akbar clarified the present state of the opposition. According to him, comparison between the present state of the opposition and its state in the previous elections is based on the peak period of the previous elections. According to Sulhaddin Akbar, it is the beginning of the election process and the activeness will increase as the election approaches.
â€œIt is true that there is some weakness on some parameters. The situation will improve as the election campaign comes up. Integration tendencies are considered to be too weak. The main reason is that some opposition parties hesitate over participating in the elections. Besides, access to media and freedom of assembly have been limited and financial resources have weakened. The opposition needs to work hard on these spheres,â€ he said.
Chairman of Supreme Assembly of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Gulamhuseyn Alibayli agrees to the view that the opposition is weak. According to him, it is connected with the results of the previous elections.
â€œPeople no more believe in free elections, and this weakens the opposition. The opposition is not guilty, the processes inside the opposition have always been so. But the opposition cannot gather and this is in favor of the opposite side,â€ he said,
â€œThe opposition has been deprived of propaganda in electronic mass media, it is impossible to hold meetings with the local people and even to hold meetings in the regions. Those, who have sympathy with the parties and are eager to give financial support to them also fear to do it,â€ President of the Public Forum for Azerbaijan Eldar Namazov said.
Umid Party Chairman Igbal Agazadeh stated that opposition was not weak and determined different tactics.
â€œPrevious tactics imagine that the opposition is strong. Opposition is strong today, but it cannot demonstrate this strength. On the other hand, traditional candidates run for the elections, unfortunately the opposition is estimated against the background of them,â€ he said.
Gudrat Hasanguliyev, chairman of United Azerbaijan Popular Front Party noted that the authorities impede the opposition to become stronger. He considers that there are not opportunities for financing of parties and carrying out political issues.
â€œOn the other hand, protection of traditional opposition forces by West and the government causes weakness of opposition. Ambitious chairmen of several opposition parties do not take serious steps to become stronger and join a block. Their ambition impedes it. The block of traditional opposition depends on will of West,â€ he said.
Fuad Mukhtarov, Secretary General and Acting Chairman of Azerbaijan National Independence Party noted that the weakness of opposition was not the result of the policy persuaded by this camp.
â€œIf there is need for political parties in the country, favorable conditions should be created for their activity. There are many pressures against the opposition today, the aim is to take out them from policy,â€ he said.
â€œOpposition parties are weaker than parties of authorities. The main reason of this is the successful policy of Ilham Aliyev. This policy develops successfully and the population supports this policy and does not display an interest to opposition. This process will continue at an accelerated pace,â€ Mubariz Gurbanli, YAP Deputy Executive Secretary told APA.
He noted that the government persuaded the right policy, therefore the people do not support the opposition.
â€œWhy do people support the opposition? The government eliminates their problems and meets the national interests and desires. The opposition also plays a role in this process, but we are not interested in it,â€ he said.
Politician Ilgar Mammadov stated that the main reason of oppositionâ€™s weakness was a chairmanship of same persons to these parties within 20 years and regular defeat of opposition in 8 elections and referendum since 1995.
â€œIf any political force defeats in terms of activity of leader regularly, it means that there is a need for radical change in the chairmanship of this political force. The public understands it very clearly. But this change has not occurred yet. Opposition has very little chance in the forthcoming elections. These sayings do not aim to justify regressive policy carried on by the government. Naturally, the government has a role in the process. If party defeats regularly, it means that, there are serious shortcomings in its leadership, ranks and principles. Thatâ€™s why, the opposition will never succeed with these leaders.