Azerbaijan’s main opposition parties boycott snap presidential election
- 20 December, 06:27
Azerbaijan’s two main opposition parties are boycotting the snap presidential elections scheduled for February 7, citing lack of democratic environment in the country.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev whose current, fourth term will expire in 2025, unexpectedly called the snap election in early December without giving reasons behind the decision.
On December 16, Popular Front of Azerbaijan Party (PFAP) announced in its convention that it will boycott the upcoming election. The chairman of the party, Ali Karimli, told BBC that “the Azerbaijani government is going to the elections in the conditions of increasing repression in society.”
Another major party Musavat announced the similar decision in its convention on December 15. “The government’s appeals to create a pre-election democratic environment, release all political prisoners, ensure freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and expression, and representation of candidate parties in election commissions went unanswered,” Musavat’s Chairman Arif Hajili wrote on his Facebook page. In an interview with Radio Liberty, Hajili said the government refused to allow the party to register their presidential candidate for the elections.
Ilgar Mammadov, chairman of opposition ReAl party, wrote on his Facebook account that his “party will not present a technical candidate.”
Not all opposition parties boycotted the election.
Among the presidential hopefuls running against Aliyev are Chair of the Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Gudrat Hasanguliyev; Razi Nurullayev of the National Front Party; Fazil Mustafa of the Great Order Party; Elshad Musayev, chair of the Great Azerbaijan Party; Fuad Aliyev the former chair of the Liberal Democratic Party and politician Zahid Oruj.
According to the Central Election Committee, registration of presidential candidates started on December 19, and the last date of registration will be January 8.
