"Public Chamber" supports the memorandum on electoral reform

 On Tuesday "Public Chamber" held a hearing on the memorandum on electoral reform on elections , previously presented by political forces and civil society institutions to a group of lawyers and experts. The document is aimed at developing of proposals to ensure the conditions for democratic and fair elections.

One of the authors of the memorandum, and at the same time a member of the Coordinating Council of the "Public Chamber", Vidadi Mirkamal, noted that the document summarizes and reflects the suggestions of different political forces on electoral reform.

However, according to the lawyer, the idea of ​​a memorandum may serve as a basis for the consolidation of opposition forces in the presidential election in 2013. Another co-author of the document, Hafiz Hasanov, the head of the NGO "Center for Law and Development",  noted that the current Electoral Code does not allow  to hold democratic elections.

The memorandum proposed to reform the electoral system in six directions: in particular, to restore the mixed majority-proportional system of elections. It existed prior to the amendment to the Constitution in 2002. Then the parliamentary elections  in  2005 and 2010 were carried out only by the majority system.

In addition, it is proposed to form election commissions in a balanced way between the main political forces, to simplify the process of nomination and registration of candidates, increasing up to 120 days the period of the election campaign, and 60 days - the pre-election stage, freedom of assembly, to create equal conditions for granting the parties pay and free air time on television and radio, the creation of an independent commission to investigate complaints, the introduction of a parallel vote count to prevent fraud.

PFPA leader Ali Kerimli assessed  the document as a successful option to consolidate the opposition.

As for the adoption of this document by the authorities, it is necessary to use the mechanisms of pressure. According to Kerimli, none  political power, except the authorities, will  oppose the proposed electoral reform. He proposed to focus public attention on these proposals  so that they be adopted.

The leader of the party "Musavat", Isa Gambar, also praised the proposals. None  authoritarian regime had been changed through elections, but  the change of such regimes always occurs in an election year, said Gambar.—05C06--