Cabinet Should Be Abolished � Eldar Namazov

Baku / 22.01.18 / Turan: The number of officials in Azerbaijan is three times higher than the norms established by world standards, the former presidential aide Eldar Namazov said, commenting on the situation surrounding the reform of the system of governance in Azerbaijan.

According to him, the basic idea of ​​reforms, the reduction of the bureaucratic apparatus, is correct. However, steps in this direction are taken slowly, Namazov stressed in an interview with the Turan program Chetin Sual (Difficult Question).

In his view, transformations in this sphere should have been carried out before 2006, or before the influx of large oil money, when hundreds of billions of dollars were put in the country's budget.

Namazov regretfully stated that the reform of the management system was thought up after a large part of the oil money came to Azerbaijan and was used ineffectively.

Commenting on the experts' common opinion on the need for Azerbaijan to apply the Georgian model of governance, Namazov drew attention to the fact that the neighboring country is a republic of a parliamentary type. There, the economic bloc is controlled not by the President, but by the Prime Minister.

Namazov is a supporter of a more radical reform - the total elimination of the Cabinet and the transition to the American model of governance.

All the same, the ministers are appointed by the President and they are accountable to him. In the presidential administration there are departments for working with ministries.

The Cabinet of Ministers in its current form is a relic of the Soviet past and has no effective function.

On the other hand, the Constitution was amended to establish the Institute of First Vice-President. If the President is in charge of all ministers, and there is also the institution of the First Vice-President, then the need for the Cabinet, as an organ, disappears.

How effective is the liquidation of separate state bodies and the transfer of their functions under the authority of one ministry?

Formally, in terms of quantity, this is a positive step, since it leads to a reduction in the bureaucracy.

Now there is talk of the unification of the Ministries of Taxes and Finance and the State Customs Committee.

"I'm a supporter of this. In such a country as Azerbaijan there is no need for a large number of ministries and committees, and for a huge army of officials," Namazov said.

However, in his opinion, the issue should not consist only a mechanical merger of ministries, as it is necessary to ensure their effectiveness and transparency.

In general, it is necessary to carry out cardinal reforms to ensure a balance between the branches of power: strengthen the role of parliament and expand the powers of local authorities.

For the proper management and development of the economy, an independent judiciary has to be established, which would protect human rights, including entrepreneurs and investors.

It is necessary to revise the system of territorial management. Why should there be such a big number of districts and the maintenance of a large army of officials?

It is necessary to reorganize the entire control system, Namazov said. -03C06-