No Equal Opportunity Created for Candidates - IDI

Baku / 09.02.20 / Turan: The Institute for Democratic Initiatives (IDI) on Saturday published its second interim report as part of a long-term monitoring of the February 9 parliamentary elections.

The report covers the period of pre-election campaign based on monitoring of 78 constituencies.

The document says that in the election campaign no progress was made in securing political freedoms, including freedom of speech and the press, freedom of assembly and the question of political prisoners.

For a short period after registration, 313 candidates refused to participate in the elections.

“Massive and urgent recall of candidates raises doubts about the voluntary character of this step of the election participants. The key to this conclusion is that most candidates do not work in government-funded institutions and enterprises,” the report said.

According to IDI monitoring data, 1,305 candidates continue to fight for deputy seats.

Shortening the campaign timeline created serious obstacles to campaigning using the opportunities provided by law.

The lack of favorable conditions led to a decrease in political activity.

“The National Council of Democratic Forces that is an important part of the opposition does not participate in the elections and did not hold mass actions during this period. Other leading opposition organizations — the Musavat party and the Republican Alternative, as well as independent candidates were more concentrated in the constituencies and did not hold any nationwide public events. As a result, the opposing political forces have lost the ability to conduct open, honest and fair competition,” the report further says.

The election campaign was accompanied by the intervention of local executive bodies in the electoral process, pressure on opposition candidates and their campaigners, the use of administrative resources, and a violation of the principle of equality between candidates.

The cost of the paid media pre-election campaign was not affordable for most candidates.

The CEC has registered three organizations to conduct exit-polls. However, public opinion has serious doubts about the objectivity of the investigation conducted by these bodies.

IDI believes that on election day, election commissions should enable observers to observe elections under normal conditions. Authorities must show political will in order to prevent local executive bodies and other structures from interfering in elections and vote counts.   -06B-