Who is Right - Those Participating in the Elections or Those Boycotting?

On July 13, the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) decided to boycott the parliamentary elections. Other opposition forces, however, are participating in the elections, stating that they aim to change the current situation through their participation.

APFP Chairman's advisor, Mammad Ibrahim, commented on their decision to Radio Azadlig, stating that nothing has changed since the last parliamentary elections: "The same election commission, the same laws, and restrictions on freedom of assembly remain. Additionally, the number of political prisoners has increased compared to the previous election period."

Ibrahim noted that the APFP had previously set conditions for participating in the elections: "These include the involvement of our party members in election commissions, the release of political prisoners, and the guarantee of our right to freedom of assembly. None of these conditions have been met. We requested a venue for the session of the Supreme Assembly, and the government did not allocate it. Would they allocate a place for us to meet with voters? No."

According to the advisor, if the elections were even partially transparent, they would participate and win: "But here, there is not even 1% transparency. In this case, why should we participate in these elections?"

Other opposition forces do not join the boycott decision. Arif Hajili, Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Musavat Party, believes that achieving any significant changes in the current political environment is almost impossible. Unlike the APFP, he justifies their decision to participate in the elections: "If any political party does not participate in the elections, it effectively isolates itself from the processes in the political environment of Azerbaijan."

Hajili noted that according to Azerbaijani legislation, it is not possible to boycott the elections: "Because there is no quorum for the elections. From this perspective, there is no mechanism for boycotting the elections in Azerbaijani legislation."

He stated that by participating in these elections, the Musavat Party aims to prevent the government from undermining the election institution as a democratic process and to inform the public and international community about violations during the election process: "When we do not participate in the elections, the public accuses us of leaving them alone in the field and facilitating the government's implementation of these issues more easily. We participate in these elections to counter these accusations. We will present our election platform to the public. We believe that one day there will be democratic elections in Azerbaijan."

Hikmet Babaoğlu, a member of the Board of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, told Turan that in every democratic society, political parties themselves decide whether to participate in the elections: "However, the issue of boycotting the elections is entirely different."

According to Babaoğlu, only a party that has the capacity to influence the election results and has broad support can boycott the elections: "In this case, the term boycott is not appropriate. The Azerbaijan Popular Front Party is merely trying to cover up its failure and inactivity in the Azerbaijani political system with such excuses. Because the APFP is aware that from 2020 to today, significant events have occurred in the fate of our country, people, and state, yet they have not taken any positive stance or steps regarding national and state interests."

He believes that this is why the APFP does not have the capability to appeal to voters and ask for votes today: "For this reason, they decided not to participate in these elections. But it would be better if they used the term boycott correctly, both in terms of political content and etymology. It is not appropriate for a political party that cannot afford to boycott to use this term."

The deputy noted that every political party is capable of its strength: "If they will not achieve results, it is indeed better if they do not participate. The political pulse of the country shows that the lack of appreciation for the historical steps taken at a very important stage and the non-support of these steps by the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, as well as the incorrect predictions made by this party regarding all events from 2020 to 2023, have further reduced its influence."

According to Babaoğlu, the APFP has made wrong predictions, from the departure of Russian peacekeepers from Azerbaijan to the handover of the Lachin corridor to Armenians and the questioning of Azerbaijan's sovereign rights: "In this case, no political party that does this can get votes from voters, even if it wants to. But again, it is their decision. I think that the participation or non-participation of the APFP in the elections will neither diminish Azerbaijan's democracy nor cast a shadow on the democratic celebration of the Azerbaijani people."