Not holiday greetings

This was an unconventional appeal to the people, which really provoked an emergency caused by the spread of coronavirus.

In the preamble of his appeal, Aliyev made a reservation that he canceled the traditional festive events in order to ensure public safety and prevent mass crowding, which is risky in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

By tradition, and it still has not been interrupted, the president himself personally participated in the festivities, starting from festivities on the square in the Icheri Sheher (Old Town), ending with the lighting of festive fire at the foot of the Maiden’s Tower.

The appeal was unconventional not only because it was corrected by the problem of the viral pandemic, but also because the appeal carried a spirit of contradiction. On the one hand, the president congratulated and wished all the best to all the people and every citizen, and on the other hand, he blamed for all sins and threatened to kill “national traitors” in the person of non-systemic opposition members, who are also citizens of the country and part of the Azerbaijani people. Along with declaring the successes of domestic and foreign policy, he devoted enough space to coronavirus, combating it, prevention, etc., which did not even fit into the holiday speech.

From the point of view of the structure of the appeal, it was arranged poorly, the president’s message caused conflicting feelings and confusion not only for those who were addressed, but also for those who track such important statements during the fateful periods of world history, and how it happens with the coronavirus pandemic.

Congratulation. The president should distinguish the speech into three separate speeches for different dates: congratulation, coronavirus pandemic, and politics.

In such difficult days for the country, citizens expect from the head of state moral empathy, support, and optimism. Did not work out.

Coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic is a separate conversation and it was worth it to devote a separate speech, a government meeting with the participation of the head of state, with a real program, goals and objectives, a clear vision of the process in order to guide, reassure people, and relieve fear and panic. Demonstrate process control.

Unfortunately, our government was always late in such cases, which led to negative consequences. Take for example the fall in oil prices in 2014, the financial crisis of 2015. It also happened with a pandemic. The operational headquarters was set up late on February 27, late closed the border with Iran, which became the second most widespread after China, and other preventive measures were taken late. The so-called opposition economist Gubad Ibadoglu  by February 27 published a plan of urgent measures, including termination of studies in educational institutions, border closure and more. However, the government did so late. Despite the multimillion-dollar allocation of funds to combat the pandemic, pharmacies do not have alcohol or protective hygiene masks. The site of the operational headquarters was launched late, just on the eve of the holidays. Enlightenment work is poor, while in a number of countries special TVs have been created devoted only to coronavirus. In this case, a similar Turkish TV channel could be relayed in Azerbaijan.

We did not see in the headquarters of representatives of civil society, the creation of a volunteer movement, and any discussions with the goal of real consolidation of the state and people.

Politics. Finally, the expression of hostility towards political opponents in a festive appeal to the people cannot be justified, not only from the point of view of the topic of the appeal, but also from the position of Aliyev’s status as head of state. It is possible that the verbal lynching of opponents was caused by an extremely pandemic situation, but it is unproductive, at least in conditions of the beginning of a dialogue, which, in the words of the president, was initiated by the power itself, which is in a strong position. Indeed, the government really demonstrated its strength during the February 9 early parliamentary elections and social networks are full of numerous facts demonstrating such power and the will of the state.

Dialogue is a complicated thing, but necessary especially in emergencies. It is believed that the struggle against a pandemic, the consolidation of society and the state, and outside political actions today can become a platform for joint actions by the authorities, the opposition, and the civil sector in order to get out of this test with dignity. This is a necessary real step for outside political dialogue, which can become the basis for dialogs in various areas - politics, economics, security and others.

Then we will avoid introducing a state of emergency, which the president promised  in his speech to introduce in case of exacerbation of the coronavirus situation. Moreover, he himself admitted that no one can can predict how events might develop.