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Azerbaijani CEC comments on non-allocation of free airtime for MP candidates

16 October 2015 14:45 (UTC +04:00)

Those participating in the elections should form their own financial fund and carry out their own campaign at the expense of these funds, CEC deputy chairman Natig Mammadov told APA.

Mammadov said free campaign can be legal only if a person has the status of special subject. That is to say, a candidate is registered by a political party or bloc at more than 60 of the constituencies countrywide.

“Our experience shows that there are no parties with more than 60 registered candidates, except for the New Azerbaijan Party, which has waived this free campaign. As a result, we have no subject with the right to free airtime and media coverage save this particular party,” he said.

As for the free broadcast time granted to candidates in previous parliamentary elections, the CEC deputy chairman noted that it was an exception in the election history of Azerbaijan.

“The CEC came up with an initiative at the time. We tried to create necessary conditions. In fact, it does not make much sense that a candidate who is registered at one constituency shall conduct his campaign countrywide. That candidate should conduct his campaign on the constituency where he is registered. In these terms, local broadcasting network could be helpful for candidates. Also, free airtime for candidates registered at any of the constituencies was not lawful. It had been possible thanks to the CEC’s initiative as extra measures. Secondly, the law doesn’t envisage provision of free election airtime to candidates of each constituency, it was initiated by the CEC as additional measures. It shouldn’t be regarded as a necessary commitment. According to the law, it was additional step taken in favor of a candidate. Such steps always depend on circumstances, they should be tested out for determining their efficiency. There is no need to promote a particular candidate in all 125 constituencies,” he added.

Mammadov said that there are numerous methods for candidates to conduct their campaigns and inform voters about their program. “These methods include meeting directly with voters, preparation and distribution of campaign materials and paid election airtime in media outlets. It includes media outlets operating across the country. There are so many new opportunities, no problem regarding free election airtime. About 50 media outlets appealed to the CEC for paid airtime, any candidate can take this opportunity. New Azerbaijan Party refused free election airtime there is no legal obligation for allotting free election broadcast time to others,” he concluded.