ELECTORAL CODE OF AZERBAIJAN TO BE AMENDED
The Legal Policy and State Building Standing Committee of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic discussed the bill “On amendments and changes in the Electoral Code of the Azerbaijan Republic”.
Chairman of the Standing Committee Ali Huseynov told: “The Electoral Code prepared in 2002 under direction of the nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev, has created perfect legal base for carrying out in the country of normal elections, and under the mentioned Code some elections already took place. However, as the world process of democratization develops, the requirements vary. Therefore, there was a necessity for improvement of the document” At his words, the said Bill presented by the President of Azerbaijan to Parliament as a legislative initiative, has been prepared including in view of recommendations of the Venetian Commission of the Council of Europe and the Bureau of Democratic Institutes and Human Rights of OSCE, has received positive responses from both structures.
Then, Latif Huseynov, the head of department of the legislation on the state building of the Milli Majlis, informed on amendments and changes offered in the Code. He told, that the Venetian Commission and the OSCE Bureau of Democratic Institutes and Human Rights has regarded amendments and changes suggested in the Code as a positive step undertaken in the direction of improvement of the election legislation.
According to the Bill, it is offered to include in the Code separate regulations about inadmissibility of illegal intervention in the course of elections. Other offer concerns use of envelopes for ballots. It will serve simplification of voting procedures.
Appeals of voters will be precisely specified not only on the Internet, but also in the election information book. The presented document of the Central Electoral Commission also includes power accreditation for the organizations carrying out "exit-poll". Besides, in military units of special regime, polling stations can be created only in the cases established by the Central Election Commission.
Besides, it is prohibited to place pre-election propaganda materials on buildings and objects, except specially established places. Preliminary results of elections will be promulgated right after representation by the district election commissions in the Central Election Commission of reports on results of voting.
According to other change proposed in the code, with a view of carrying out of pre-election campaign on TV and radio on a paid basis, the broadcasting time will be given according to the Law “On Advertising”.
As a whole, amendments and changes, first of all, pursue the purpose to raise efficiency of activity of the Eelection Commissions and to improve the Code.
In discussions, also took part the representatives of the Council of Europe and the OSCE Baku Office.
Other news in this section
