What Changed in Electoral Code?

Baku / 16.12.17 / Turan: The country's parliament is going to make changes to the Electoral Code. According to the information of the Milli Majlis website, the draft proposes to make 30 changes. Some articles are proposed to be modified, and some are to be deleted.

In the draft, attention is drawn to changes related to the holding of extraordinary presidential elections.

According to the text of the current article 179, paragraph 1 of the Electoral Code, called "Conducting extraordinary presidential elections," "extraordinary presidential elections are held if the term of office of the President expires before the completion of the term of office of the presidential powers determined by the Constitution." It is proposed to change this sentence by the following text:

"If the term for the exercise of the powers of the President expires before the end of the term established by the Constitution, then according to the second sentence of Part 1 of Article 101 of the Constitution and the President"s announcement, extraordinary presidential elections are held."

It is proposed to make similar changes to Article 179.2 of the Electoral Code. The text of the current article states that "from the day of adoption of the relevant decision by the Constitutional Court or Milli Majlis and not later than in one week, elections are appointed by the Central Election Commission on Wednesday and are held within a three-month term."

The proposed option is as follows:

"... As soon as the Constitutional Court or Milli Majlis passes a relevant decision, and after the President announces an extraordinary presidential election, not later than in a week, on the first Wednesday, elections are appointed by the CEC and are held within a three- month term."

For those wishing to be elected to the municipality, the age limit is removed. Changes in the Electoral Code suggest elimination of age requirements. Currently, Article 212 of the Code, entitled "The Right to Elect Members of Municipalities," states that citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who are 21 on the day of elections or citizens over 21 who are permanently residing in the respective constituency may be elected to the municipality.

This proposal is proposed to be amended as follows: "Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who are eligible to participate in elections and permanently residing in the relevant constituency may be elected to the municipalities." --0----