Media Review for February 8, 2020

Raising pensions, parliamentary elections, and the activities of the Media Assistance Fund are the topics of today's media.

The official newspaper Azerbaijan writes about a new wave of social package. We are talking about the President’s decree on raising pensions by 16.6% (On Indexation of Labor Pensions). For the implementation of the project, 560 million manat is required per year and 47 million manat additionally per month.

Subsequently, the average monthly pension will increase from 262 to 300 manat.

The Bizimyol-info.az website discusses parliamentary elections, noting that new elections should ensure parliamentary independence. The economist Gubad Ibadogdu believes that the country needs an economy that operates according to civil rules like the Singaporean and Chilean models. The economist believes that 75% of our natural resources are already wasted, but we can save the remaining 20% ​​for the next generation. We should see our future not in oil and gas, but in people. Today the country has almost no talented youth left, the unemployment rate in the country is high, and youths are mainly unemployed. The economist considers it necessary to liberalize the economy.

The website Yeni Sabah.az cites the thoughts of political scientist Azer Rashidoglu regarding a new type of protest in Azerbaijani society. During meetings with candidates for deputies, voters openly expressed their protest to them, accusing them of not being interested in their problems.

The website Yeniavaz.az discusses the significance and activities of the State Media Support Fund, and criticizes this activity. Experts believe there is a need for such a structure, but not in this form. Today, the Fund is engaged in financing the media of no public importance. In addition, it is necessary to change the management of the Fund, experts say.