Azerbaijan to control officials` interference with elections -view

BAKU, September 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Azerbaijan's authorities expect that
the parliamentary elections, due on November 7, will show high activity,
chief of socio-political department of the presidential administration,
Ali Gasanov, said on Monday.
"Unlike the previous parliamentary elections (in 2005), this time all
the leading political parties announced that they would take part in the
process," he said hoping this decision will raise the "activity of the
electorate."
"The government will not let local officials interfere with the
election campaign in the regions," Gasanov assured. "In case of
interfering, they will become responsible for their activities."
It is important "that the local officials do not use administrative
resources in favor of any candidates," he said. That is why the local
governments and law enforcement authorities "should provide favorable
conditions for transparent and democratic parliamentary elections."
The list of candidates from the ruling party, Eni Azerbaijan (New
Azerbaijan), which has a majority in the present 125-seats' parliament,
has been renewed.
"We gave preference to young members of the party, who actively work
in education, medicine and other intellectual spheres," he said.
Local media published a list of candidates from the ruling party,
which had offered their candidacies in 114 precincts.
Azerbaijan's Central Election Committee has registered seven
opposition election blocs, including that of the Azerbaijan Popular Front
Party and Musavat, which criticizes the present power most of all. The
bloc unites two opposition parties.
Since 2005, parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are held on the
majority system.

-0-kar/kud