Ruling party: All political parties to be re-registered in Azerbaijan

All political parties will be re-registered in accordance with new requirements after the new law on "Political parties" is approved in Azerbaijan, deputy executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, MP Siyavush Novruzov said.

"Our proposal on re-registration is that political parties must collect 0.1 percent of voter signatures," he said. "There are about 5 million voters in Azerbaijan. So, 0.1 percent is 5,000 people. This system is used in different countries. It is necessary to collect 2 percent in some countries. The parties operate throughout the republic. Therefore, we think that the signatures must be collected throughout the country. About 200 signatures must be collected in each constituency."

"This practice exists in Ukraine and most world countries," he said.

"The law on the Ukrainian political parties includes even the names of cities," he said. "The number of the votes, to be collected in Kharkov, the Crimea and other regions has been also stipulated there. We would like this to be used in Azerbaijan. We want the parties to be nationwide, rather than territorial and local. There is no reason for political parties to fear re-registration, as Azerbaijan has the most simple registration."

The political parties must have a social base, he said.

"If a political party offers alternative projects, claims to power, then it must have a social base and the electorate," he said. "Otherwise, there is no need to put forward political demands."

Novruzov said that the process of re-registration of the parties is connected with financing.

"A social base is important for financing political parties," MP said. "If the old rules are used while financing the parties from the state budget, several people will gather to create a party. Then, they will demand the funds. It is necessary to take certain steps to prevent these incidents."

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/