Political parties in Azerbaijan differently approach their financing from state budget

Azerbaijan is expected to discuss the new draft law on political parties, on which there are different opinions.

The new bill is supposed to improve the activities of parties and facilitate their work, said the chairman of the opposition Adalat Party, MP Ilyas Ismayilov.

"I am not familiar with the new bill, but I think that the new law should not prevent the activities of parties, but should facilitate their work," said Ismayilov. He expressed his opinions on the funding of political parties from the state budget.

Ismayilov said that regardless of whether the party is represented in the Parliament, if the political party was officially registered, it should receive financial support from the state.

"Existing Law on political parties is normal. Nevertheless, it is possible to make some additions to the Law regarding financing of political parties by the state," said the chairman of Citizens and Development Party (CDP) Ali Aliyev.

"It is possible that after the adoption of this law, there may raise a question about the re-registration of political parties, as a result of which, a number of opposition parties can not get registered. I believe that under this law, re-registration of political parties should not be brought to the agenda," he said.

With regards to financing of parties, Aliyev said that in the issue of funding of political parties, their representation in the Parliament should not be a criterion.

"Such a criterion must be chosen that the parties could be involved in the process of funding on an objective basis. These criteria are: the number of party members, the number of votes gained during the elections, the number of party organizations in the country," said Aliyev.

Earlier, deputy chairman and executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Ali Ahmedov said that political parties in Azerbaijan need funding. But for the activities of the political parties, their funding from the state is not the only prerequisite. The State can help the parties based on the principle of representation in the Parliament, said Ahmedov.

A new Law on political parties may be presented for discussions at the autumn session of the Azerbaijani Parliament. The political parties proposed amendments and additions concerning the financing of parties or adopt a new law.


/Trend/