Municipalities create initiative group for referendum

/By Azernews/

By Nigar Abbasova

Municipalities of Azerbaijan have created an initiative group for the agitation in connection with the constitutional referendum, scheduled for September 26.

The decision was taken during a meeting held with the participation of 348 representatives of municipalities functioning in different regions of the country. Participants of the meeting highly appreciated the proposed amendments to the constitution, mentioning that the last changes and additions to the constitution of the country were made on March 18, 2009.  The initiative group that was created during the meeting was called “Belediyye” (“Municipality”).  A notice on creation of the “Belediyye” initiative group was submitted to the Central Election Commitee for registration.

Participants have underlined the necessity of making changes, noting that the county has dynamically developed in the recent years and the changes that occurred in the socio-political, economic and cultural spheres of the country necessitated the changes.

Meanwhile, Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan has already approved the schedule of its principal activity for the conduct of nationwide voting (referendum). The Commission also plans to prepare and distribute special brochures among all participants of the referendum to enable them to get acquainted with the draft referendum act.

President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on holding a referendum on amendments to the country’s constitution on September 26, 2016. The Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan approved the draft amendments to the Constitution at its meeting on July 25. The Court concluded that the changes proposed by President Ilham Aliyev are in line with the requirements of the Constitution of Azerbaijan and may be put up for a nationwide vote. The results of the Referendum will be announced till October, 21