ASSA-IRADA,
7, February 2008

Azerbaijani Vice-Speaker Bahar Muradova expects progress from the ongoing discussions on the country's election laws with international experts.

"I hope a more advanced draft law will emerge as a result of the discussions to be held between the Council of Europe Venice Commission and the government, and the Milli Majlis (parliament) will proceed according to that result," she told reporters.

Another round of talks on electoral legislation has started in Baku, with the key debate due on Friday with the participation of political parties. On Thursday, the CE representatives held meetings at the parliament, the President's Office and the Central Election Commission. Further discussions will focus on the procedure of filing complaints to election bodies, the make-up of electoral commissions and issues concerning registration of candidates.

The Azadlig bloc of three major Azerbaijani opposition parties sent a package of proposals on amendments and supplements to the country's Election Code to the Venice Commission in June 2007. It suggested that election commissions be formed based on equal representation of all political forces.

18 seats in the commissions are currently equally split among pro-government, opposition and independent members, but the opposition claims that independent members tend to favor the government.

Muradova said the numerous proposals on the Election Code made so far included one by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party to halve the duration of pre-election campaigns to two months.

"The composition of election commissions could be discussed here as well, but ultimately, a mutually-agreed decision satisfying both sides [authorities and opposition] will be passed," the vice-speaker said.