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Why is setting up a bloc unsuccessful in Azerbaijan? - POLL

Why is setting up a bloc unsuccessful in Azerbaijan? - <font color=red>POLL</font>

11 December 2008 12:03 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Elnur Mammadli â€“ APA. There are over 50 registered parties and approximately 50 unregistered parties in Azerbaijan. A number of unions and blocs have been established with these partiesâ€™ participation in Azerbaijan. These are: Movement for Election Reforms and Democratic Elections, Movement for Democracy, Great Union for Democracy, Democratic Congress, Union of Azerbaijanist Forces, Socialist Azerbaijan Bloc, â€œOur Azerbaijanâ€ bloc, ATA bloc, â€œAzadligâ€ bloc, Union for Democracy, â€œNew policyâ€ bloc, Assembly of Pro-government Parties, Union of National Democratic Forces, Union of Azerbaijani Leftists, Democratic Election Center, National Resistance Movement. Apart from it, various parties signed agreements on bilateral cooperation. But the reality is that these unions, blocs and bilateral agreements do not live long. What are its causes? What principles are violated when parties set up a bloc? Is setting up blocs in Azerbaijan in line with the world practice?
Chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Karimli told APA that the blocs failed to reach their goals, because laws were ignored in the country and the results of the elections were falsified.
â€œMuch attention should be paid to the cause, not to the result. An election bloc is set up to unite forces and win. Azadlig bloc achieved it. But officialization of this victory was prevented. It is not right to claim that the oppositionâ€™s blocs are unsuccessful. In which country are election blocs eternal?â€ he said.
Ali Karimli said attempts would continue to set up election blocs in the future elections.
Chairman of the United Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev said that the main aim of the Union of National Democratic Forces was not to come to power, but to express unique position on a number of issues.
â€œThese issues are the development of democracy in the country, Nagorno Karabakh problem,â€ he said.
Gudrat Hasanguliyev considers that the parties represented in political blocs in Azerbaijan fail to reach their goals, because they usually do not fulfill their duties.
â€œI think that the parties in Azerbaijan may unite in a unique organization, but the ambitions of party chairmen do not allow this. This is a matter of political culture. I suppose our activity in this direction will produce positive results. I hope the process of establishing blocs will start soon and there will be 4-5 normal parties in Azerbaijan,â€ he said.
Mirmahmud Miralioglu, chairman of Classical Popular Front Party, which is represented in the Union for Democracy, told APA that the main aim of the union was to struggle for democracy, Karabakh, civil society in Azerbaijan. He said the members of the union had partially reached their goals.
â€œMany views have been expressed on the settlement of Karabakh problem up to now. We held Karabakh forums, put froth various proposals,â€ he said.
Mirmahmud Miralioglu said two parties entered the bloc in the past two months â€“ Great Azerbaijan Party and Peopleâ€™s Party.
â€œUnion for Democracy has been functioning for a year and a half. We will not step back unless we reach our goal,â€ he said.

Deputy executive secretary of New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), MP Mubariz Gurbanli told APA that the election blocs of opposition had not been set up basing on sincerity, the blocs had not united real powers and therefore failed to reach their goals. He said the opposition parties acted basing on old principles.
â€œNew Azerbaijan Party is now functioning in the Assembly of Pro-government Parties. This union was set up basing on sincerity and reaches its goals,â€ he said.
Arif Hajili, Head of Central Executive Staff of Musavat Party said that blocks represented by Musavat reached their aims. Hajili added that Musavat won during parliamentary elections in 2000 as a party and presidential elections in 2003, parliamentary elections in 2005 as a block.
â€œThe problem is not linked with failure of parties and blocks in elections. The problem is linked with falsification of elections.
Lale Shovkat, Leader of National Union Movement told APA that the Movement had been represented in Azadlig block for three years. Azadlig is a long-term political block. Relations inner block was established on sincerity. Shovkat blamed the government for their failure.
â€œBlocks are established in connection with elections and in most cases they reached their targetsâ€, she said.
MP Fazil Mustafa, Head of Great Salvation Party explained their failure with not existence of joint program covering ideology of the parties. He stated that union of parties was of psychological character. Mustafa added that normal election was not formed in Azerbaijan and therefore the target of the parties was not correct.
How are blocks reflected in political theory? Politologist Zardusht Alizadeh told APA blocks were temporary union of parties for any aims. To him, it is natural that blocks are temporary. Blocks have various examples along the history. Alizadeh noted that parties had different goals and common purposes. Several parties function for common purposes during any period. Various parties join and establish coalition in the west. There were well-known Peopleâ€™s Front Parties during 30s.
Alizadeh underlined that there were not permanent political parties in Azerbaijan and it was linked with society and state. There is not real election system in Azerbaijan and therefore the blocks failed elections.
Politologist Ilgar Mammadov stated that the blocks failed because of not existence of democracy in the country.
â€œBlocks are related with election. According to philosophical values, people establish such kind of coalition taking their economic bases and election periods into account. There are not democratic values in Azerbaijan,â€ he said.