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Opposition parties donâ€™t accept â€œAzadligâ€ blockâ€™s boycott decision seriously - UPDATED

Opposition parties donâ€™t accept â€œAzadligâ€ blockâ€™s boycott decision seriously - <font color=red>UPDATED </font>

30 May 2008 12:08 (UTC +04:00)

The block issued a statement where it said that annexes and amendments to the Election Code donâ€™t guarantee free and fair elections and donâ€™t meet proposals of international organizations and oppositional groups, press-service of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, member of the block told APA. The opposition said some changes made the election law harder and created additional problems for the political parties, candidates and voters. â€œAzadligâ€ block said depriving the Azerbaijani citizens living abroad of the rights to run for the elections, accreditation of exit-poll organizations within the rules of Central Election Commission, conditions for the additional voter lists, restrictions on the pre-election campaign rights, cutting of campaign period, increasing of deposit and other reasons motivated them to boycott the elections. The statement read that the block decided not to participate in the elections and to boycott it.
Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Liberal, Citizen and development Parties entered to â€œAzadligâ€ block.
Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) Sardar Jalaloglu said this decision would have no serious impact on the processes. He said boycott could justify itself only in that case when elections have a goal to get power and forces going to the elections have only proposal to get power at any cost. Jalaoglu thinks that the elections are the action to review public relations, to participate in the solutions of the problems in the country, to organize opposition and to make its supporters more active. â€œIn this regard, the boycott does not meet these demands and can not be considered as a correct step. Despite that I respect the blockâ€™s decision and I think it is natural that the parties have different positions in the political processesâ€.
Chairman of Musavat Partyâ€™s Council Sulhaddin Akbar said boycott was not correct way in the struggle for the democracy when socio-political activeness is not higher. He said in this situation more active way should be chosen. â€œI donâ€™t think that â€œAzadligâ€ blockâ€™s boycott will have any impact on the processes because this decision does not cover all opposition. I donâ€™t think that there will be any result even if whole opposition will boycott the elections. If it is a step considered for the international community, then international community showed its attitude to the elections in Armenia. Even it didnâ€™t show necessary reaction to the shooting of people. Important thing in the elections is the organizing of the people and responsibility for it falls on the opposition. Therefore it is necessary to participate in the elections and to use maximum opportunitiesâ€.
Chairman of Classic Popular Front Mirmahmud Miralioglu also thinks that the blockâ€™s boycott decision will not have an impact on the processes. â€œHowever the blockâ€™s decision should be accepted naturally. One of the methods of political struggle is the boycotting of the elections. Everyone has a right to participate or to boycott the elections, nobody can dictate to someoneâ€™s decisionâ€.
Deputy executive secretary of New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Siyavush Novruzov said that a party is established to participate in the elections and a normal political party engaged in politics should participate in the elections.
â€œBut Azadlig bloc has neither normal members, nor a candidate. Thatâ€™s why they made this decision,â€ he said.
According to political analyst Ilgar Mammadov, if a party boycotts elections under these circumstances, it shows its lack of belief.
â€œThe forces, which have made decision to boycott elections, have lost 8 elections and referendums since 1995. Under other circumstances the decision on boycotting may be applied, even if it is not so necessary. But boycott of the political forces, which have lost 8 elections, does not have an impact. They think they have no power and refuse to participate in the elections. Thatâ€™s why it is of no importance whether these political forces will participate in the elections or not,â€ he said.