Aydin Mirzazade: "Eldar Namazov has all chances to win the second place in the upcoming elections by gaining votes among representatives of traditional opposition"

-How do you assess sociopolitical situation in Azerbaijan five months before the upcoming presidential elections?

-I think Azerbaijani society is looking forward the presidential elections and is targeted on them. Active preparations are held for the elections by political powers, that are willing to nominate their candidates for elections, they work out new technologies, intensify work with electorate. This means that the coming elections will be democratic and competitive, but it is obvious today that working President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is a special case among all candidates for victory in the upcoming presidential elections.

-Do you agree that US allocation of over $3 mln for upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan is interference with the internal affairs of our country?

-First of all, the amount of $3 mln is insignificant for conduction for presidential elections in Azerbaijan, as by official data and considering assets to be allocated for their conduction by various funds and international organizations, the overall amount of funds, allocated for elections, will be higher by several times.

At the same time, allocation of even $1 by US for conduction of elections in Azerbaijan is interference with the internal affairs of our country. These assets will be allocated not for modernization of the Central Election Commission, though if there is an intention to hold transparent, open and democratic elections, these funds could be assigned for the organization, which is responsible for the most important part of elections-calculation of votes.

The allocated funds will be used for definite organizations, chosen by some criteria, I have no idea of. It means that support of definite political powers at the coming elections is obvious, which is nothing but interference with the internal affairs of Azerbaijan.

-Do you also consider that the fight between leaders of local opposition for US-allocated $3,000,000 will be even more acute than for presidency?

-Certainly, I do. I think it would be difficult to feature the nature of combat at the coming presidential elections more exactly. As I said various funds and international organizations will allot a greater amount, for which NGos, created by people, close to opposition leaders, as well as opposition parties will conduct a stiff fight, while the outcomes of presidential elections are quite predictable.

A number of foreign analysts, as well as local political scientists and analysts, have stated openly that working president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will win the elections.

This is logical, as representatives of traditional Azerbaijani opposition do not conduct any definite work with population. They do not leave their offices for years, conduct meetings in the regions of the country or with their regional organizations. Just such kind of activity does not give them immediately financial profit.

And before the elections, when various funds and international organizations start to allocate assets and there will be a need to spend them, the opposition leaders will start imitating intensive activity. At the same time they realize that at the transparent and democratic elections they will never be able to win. And the representatives of traditional opposition admitted it in private talks with me.

-How do you assess chances of independent candidate Eldar Namazov at the coming presidential elections?

-This person is known to society. His main difference from the opposition leaders is that he has not come from the popular front, which gives him chances, along with right to chase away all problems, existing in ruling of current opposition leaders.

Eldar Namazov is a person with a democratic image, who is supported by a part of Azerbaijan, which is tired on the idleness of traditional opposition. Considering, I think Eldar Namazov has all chances to win the second place at the coming elections by gaining votes not at the expense of the candidate of powers but among representatives of traditional opposition.

/Day.Az/