Baku/18.07.23/Turan: According to the newly enacted "On Political Parties" law, political parties in Azerbaijan must register with the Ministry of Justice. As part of the registration process, parties are required to provide the names, addresses, and contact details of 5,000 of their members, along with information about their local party organizations. Several parties have already submitted this information to the Ministry of Justice, and some have received responses.
The Ministry of Justice responded to a request from members of the REAL party regarding their registration. In their response, the Ministry stated that out of the 5,168 individuals claimed by the party as its members, only 463 are verified as actual members.
Meanwhile, the Milli Majlis (Parliament) has approved amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses related to violations of the "On Political Parties" legislation. These amendments introduce fines for various offenses, including accepting illegal donations, engaging in unregistered party activities, admitting foreigners as party members, and failing to report changes in the Register of Party Members. The amendments also impose fines for political parties that open accounts outside of Azerbaijan and fail to report agreements with foreign parties. The fines can reach up to 2,000 manats, and there are increased penalties for parties interfering in the activities of state bodies.
Akif Gurbanov, the head of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives, discussed these developments on the program "A Difficult Question." He believes that the new law has presented parties with a difficult choice: either comply with the government's rules and submit the necessary documents for registration or prioritize their own strategies and operate outside the established framework. This choice is particularly challenging for the PFPA (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan) and the Musavat party.
Gurbanov suggests that the parties should refuse to comply with the rules imposed by the authorities, emphasizing the importance of a visionary approach to political struggle. However, he acknowledges that there is a possibility that the PFPA and Musavat will eventually accept the conditions set by the authorities. Gurbanov also expresses skepticism about "dialogue" parties that are willing to engage with the authorities under any circumstances, as he believes their choices are driven by self-interest and do not serve the benefit of society.
In summary, the new law has presented Azerbaijani political parties with difficult choices, with some opting to comply with the authorities' requirements while others contemplate alternative strategies. The issue of political struggle and the approaches taken by different parties have come into focus, prompting debates about the nature of politics and the interests at play within the political landscape.
Difficult question
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