Azerbaijani opposition parties commented on amendments to Law on Political Parties

The Azerbaijani Social Democratic party considers preparation for new bill on political parties to be unreasonable.

"There are principles of recognized political parties' existence. If a party operates, participates in elections and has popular support, it must be considered as registered," co-chairman of the Azerbaijani Social Democratic party Araz Alizade said.

Regarding financing of parties, Alizade said there are also world-adopted principles due to this problem. "The state allocates funds with balance corresponding to number of voters to parties represented in the parliament. There is no principle of financing of all parties by the state in the world," Alizade said.

As to re-registration of parties which already have registration, Alizade said it is wrong. "Even people do not get birth certificates after certain time," he said.  

Alizade said that they have no intention to prepare proposals to the bill. "Nobody pays attention to statements of parties not represented in the Parliament," he said.

The Civil Solidarity Party will have proposals towards new Law on Political Parties. "In the Milli Majlis we stood for financing of parties by the state and creation of equal terms for all parties. We will have proposals during next discussions too," chairman of the Civil Solidarity Party and Sabir Rustamkhanli said.

Though the Azerbaijani Democratic Party has proposals concerning the law, the party did not want to speak about them in details. "The law must serve to development of society. From this point of view, our proposals will concern development of political parties, relations of political parties and the state, participation in social and state life," chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloglu said.

Concerning re-registration of parties, Jalaloglu said that any law can regulate situation occurred after its approval. "It is impossible to regulate political relations of 10-20 years' by adopting laws every day.

Musavat party considers the existing Law Political Parties as rather democratic. "It played an important role in formation of a multiparty system in Azerbaijan. But, gaps will sure to be in this law, as in other laws. For example, it would be nice if the law reflects such issues as financing of political parties from state budget, creation of normal conditions for their work, protection of their leaders and offices, etc. I think that other clauses of the law are rather democratic," Musavat high-rank official Arif Hajili said.

The Azerbaijani National Independence Party says amendments to the law are necessary. "The law must be brought in accordance with modern requirements.The party had proposals concerning amendments to the law that were submitted before and after the referendum to the Milli Majlis and the presidential administration," Azerbaijani National Independence Party spokesperson Ali Orujev said.

He said proposals will be presented to the corresponding state agencies prior to the discussion on the law in the autumn session of the Milli Majlis, in case of necessity. "Criteria for financing of parties by the state were indicated among proposals of the parties. We think that such factors as participation of the party in elections, international cooperation, impact on publicity of the country, local structure of the party, representation in municipalities and the parliament must be taken into account concerning financing," Orujev said.

The bill on political parties will be submitted to the Milli Majlis at the autumn session. It is envisaged that the new law will reflect issues on registration, financing, activity, participation in elections, role in society, international cooperation of political parties, etc.

/Trend News/