IPA CIS Observer Team Discussed Elections to Milli Mejlis with Representatives of Political Parties

On the eve of the elections, the international observers from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly held meetings with the leadership of the New Azerbaijan Party, the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party and the Party of the Democratic Reforms of Azerbaijan, which nominated their candidates for the elections to the Milli Mejlis of the Azerbaijan Republic.

Deputy Leader, Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Ali Akhmedov told the observers on the program of the political party, its goals and plans. The party wants to increase its presence in the parliament and is interested in an objective assessement of the current elections by the national and international observers. It is going to send its observers to all the polling stations in 123 constituencies, where its candidates are nominated.

The current electoral campaign features active participation of the youth. 32 candidates of the party are under 40, therefore the party expects that the parliament will be formed by the representatives of the new generation, who can give momentum to the reforms and contribute to the renewal of the country in accordance with the program proposed by Leader of the party, President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilkham Aliyev.

Coordinator of the IPA CIS Observer Team Sodiq Safoyev informed on the principle of the monitoring of the elections, told about the impressions from the visits to the different regions of the Azerbaijan Republic by the observers and noted the competitive nature of the electoral campaign, which is carried out in compliance with the national legislation.

Leader of the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party Gudrat Gasanguliyev noted at the meeting with the observers that the party was ready to work on the multi-party basis and that the snap elections to the Milli Mejlis of the Azerbaijan Republic were open and competitive. The leader of the party told on the nomination and registration of the candidtes, as well as on the campaigning methods.

Leader of the Party of the Democratic Reforms of Azerbaijan Asim Mollazade highlighted the features of the functioning of the party system during the electoral period and told about the principles of nomination of the candidates by the party and the support during the campaign. He noted the high competitiveness of the campaign, which ensure equal opportunities for candidates from all political forces. Asim Mollazade supported the decision by the Milli Mejlis to dissolve the parliament and to hold snap elections as a necessary step to promote the reforms in the country.