The Central Election Commission (CEC) refused to register the campaign group Republic for the September 26 referendum on constitutional amendments. The initiator of the campaign group Republic was the opposition party Musavat, which opposes the amendments, considering them undemocratic.
CEC motivated its decision by the fact that 3,604 voters' signatures submitted by the party Musavat were invalidated. As a result, the number of valid signatures was less than the required 40,000.
The head of Musavat, Arif Hajili said the decision of CEC was biased. 'Of the 41,000 signatures 3,000 were called invalid under the pretext of shortcomings in the data identification cards. Such behavior of the authorities indicates their intention to hold a referendum behind the scenes. But, none of us will give up the fight against the adoption of anti-democratic amendments. We will further enhance attention to the issue of protest and referendum monitoring actions. We will not let the country go away from democratic values,' Hajili said.
Signatures in support of the campaign group Republic, along with activists of Musavat were also gathered by representatives of the movements NIDA and D-18.
Registration of the campaign group would allow the opposition to get free air time on public television and radio and to hold meetings with voters in open areas and large rooms.
Earlier CEC registered the campaign groups New Azerbaijan (created by the ruling party of the same name), Municipality (created by the municipalities of the country) and Civil Society (established by the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan and 25 pro-government NGOs). All these groups are in favor of the adoption of the amendments. The referendum will be held on 26 September.
The draft Referendum Act consists of 29 points. It would increase the term of office of the President from five to seven years, introduce rules on the dissolution of Parliament, establish the post of First Vice-President and Vice-Presidents. Under the proposed changes, in cases where the President is unable to perform his duties, his powers are transferred to the First Vice-President. Also as part of amendments to the Constitution of Azerbaijan it is proposed to eliminate the minimum age limit for a presidential candidate, which is now 35 years, and to give the head of state the right to declare extraordinary presidential elections. -06D--
Politics
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