 | Parliament election |
‘SOME PROGRESS, BUT STILL SHORT OF INT’L STANDARDS’
The January 7 parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan marked some improvement compared to the November 5 ballot, but still did not meet a number of international standards for democratic elections, concluded the International Election Observation Mission in Baku.
While the authorities undertook a number of measures to address the significant shortcomings of the November 5 ballot, these measure were insufficient to restore full confidence in the electoral process. Thus, the repeat elections took place in an atmosphere of mistrust and were marked by the boycott of several opposition parties.
It is regrettable that some of the opposition opted for the boycott of the re-runs. Democracy can only be built through widespread political participation in the democratic institutions.
On election day, polling took place in a calm and orderly manner, and in contrast to the previous election, observers were generally able to conduct their work unhindered.
However, observers again noted a number of irregularities, including some cases of ballot stuffing and a flawed counting and tabulation process.
The International Election Observation Mission urged the authorities to display protocols immediately at all commission levels and to publish detailed and aggregated results for each polling station and constituency in order to raise transparency and confidence in the electoral process.
The OSCE/ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stand ready to continue their dialogue with the authorities and civil society of Azerbaijan to address the concerns arising from these elections.
RE-ELECTION DECLARED VALID
Re-election to the Milli Mejlis was held in 11 constituencies Sunday. Voter turnout made up 47.39% and in Baku 30.6%.
According to report released by the election information center, Alimammad Nuriyev, representing the PFPA reform wing, has been elected through the 7th Yasamal district constituency of Baku with 50% of votes, Mais Safarli from Yurddash party through the 9th Khatai constituency of Baku (12.91%), Igbal Aghazadeh from Civil Solidarity Party through the 10th Khatai district constituency of Baku (24.35%), Fikrat Sadikhov from Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) through the 38th Sumgayit constituency (87.91%), Hidayat Gulamov from the PNIA through the 51st Agsu-Kurdamir (69.52%), Iskandar Guliyev from YAP through the 53rd Astara constituency (79.13%0, Zahid Orujov from Ana Vatan through the 56th Barda city constituency (57.92%), Gulmat Pirmetov from YAP through the 65th Gusar constituency (54.1%), Famil Mammadov from YAP through the 68th Imishli constituency (60.05%), Ogtai Samadov from YAP through the 94th Hajigabul-Salyan constituency (28.23%), and Abutalib Samadov from the Alliance in the name of Azerbaijan through the 99th Shamkir city constituency (83.71%).
Thus, of 11 MPs 5 represent the governing Yeni Azerbaijan Party, 2 the pro-governmental Alliance in the Name of Azerbaijan and Ana Vatan parties, while the other 4 represent the opposition.
IRREGULARITIES STILL IN EVIDENCE
Election irregularities registered during the January 7 election did not differ much from those observed in the November 5 vote, a non-partisan CEC member Yagub Husseinov told Azernews Monday.
According to him, problems predominantly emerged after 7 p.m. on the voting day, when complaints on irregularities started arriving from precinct and district election commissions.
Extensive ballot stuffing was observed again, while protocols were not closed immediately after the vote.
OSCE DESCRIBES ELECTION AS MORE DEMOCRATIC
The January 7 elections have been more democratic than the November 5 ones, which will strengthen Azerbaijan's positions on the eve of accession to the Council of Europe, says director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Mr. Gerard Studman.
He said the repeat election was important not only in terms of the composition of the new parliament, but also from the standpoint of Azerbaijan's accession to the Council of Europe.
Mr. Studman also said he had personally witnessed ballot stuffing, bribe offers and pressure on precinct commissions. In his words, these irregularities will be investigated.
He added that all the three Caucasus republic have the same election-related problems and they have to cover a long road before they can conduct elections meeting international democratic requirements.
YAP PLEASED WITH RE-RUN RETURNS
The January 7 repeat election to the Milli Mejlis has once again illustrated the high authority of the "Yeni Azerbaijan Party" (YAP) in the society. If preliminary election results of the Election Information Center prove accurate, the number of YAP members in the parliament will reach 77, executive secretary of the governing "Yeni Azerbaijan Party" Ali Ahmadov told a news conference Monday.
According to him, the repeat election was more closely-fought than the November 5 vote due to many running candidates.
Nevertheless, this was a democratic election, he said, which is proved by the participation of 7 parties.
Mr. Ahmadov then condemned the opposition's ongoing defiance of the new parliament, saying that representatives of opposition must respect those who have cast their votes in their favor.
CEC ANNOUNCES FINAL ELECTION RESULTS
The Central Election Commission announced final results of the January 9 election Tuesday. 11 of 75 running candidates have become MPs, including 5 from the governing "Yeni Azerbaijan Party", 2 from pro-governmental "Alliance in the Name of Azerbaijan" and the "Ana Vatan" party, and 4 from the opposition.
PA CE DESCRIBES AZERI PARLIAMENT AS MOST LEGITIMATE
The Azerbaijan nation is capable of conducting fair parliamentary election if it wants to. But this election has demonstrated that not everyone in the republic is interested in it, head of the PA CE Election Commission Andreas Gross told a news conference at Hyatt Regency Tuesday.
According to him, the repeat election will positively affect the final decision on Azerbaijan's acceptance to the COE. Mr. Gross said Azerbaijan's and Armenia's admission to the organization should be welcomed, as this may contribute to the solution of the long-standing conflict between the two countries.
Asked if the new parliament is legitimate, Mr. Gross said legitimacy and confidence are a problem not only in Azerbaijan, but also elsewhere in the former USSR republics. He added, however, that Azerbaijan has never had a more legitimate parliament than this.
‘IRREGULARITIES NOT TOO SERIOUS’
By Ilkin Bagirov
Azernews Staff Writer
Head of President's office socio-political department Ali Hasanov has said he fully agrees with the election feedback by international observers, who have described the repeat election as more democratic than the November 5 one and the violations observed as not serious enough to tell on final returns.
Mr. Hasanov regarded the statement by the COE and OSCE delegations as a positive feedback to the democratic development in Azerbaijan in view of the country's anticipated acceptance to the COE.
He said election results in the Sumgayit constituency #38, found as particularly flawed by international observers, would not be voided. Irregularities registered only in one polling station of the constituency will not affect the election outcome, he said.
Mr. Hasanov voiced his discontent with the utterance by PA CE representatives regarding certain political prisoners.
"We will carry on our discussions and hold a dialogue on the criminal cases of these people with the COE monitoring group", he said.
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Issue No.2(182), 2001
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