Fri 06 November 2009 | 12:16 GMT Text size:

Bahar Muradova

"Municipalities are young self-government structures established in Azerbaijan", vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Bahar Muradova has told the official website of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.

According to her, the process of improving the structure should be perceived calmly.

"In this respect, the law passed by the Parliament of Azerbaijan promotes a more rational use of this structure. Thus, after its adoption, the number of municipalities was reduced to 1700. This improvement forms a municipal budget for the appropriate use of subsidies and allows the municipalities representatives to fulfill the tasks set before them.
 
Today, the municipality has the only task of adequate provision of necessary services to citizens. Currently, representatives of political parties should study the problems facing the citizens. New Azerbaijan Party activists are working at this. I am sure that most of the candidates from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party will be elected for municipalities. In addition, the party has good electoral experience”, she said.

On the question why opposition is reluctant to participate in elections, B. Muradova noted the following:

"The low interest among Azerbaijani opposition to the municipal elections is related to its specific reasons. First, participation in elections requires the nomination of 20-30 thousand candidates. Second, these should be worthy candidates who can keep their promises and have people’s trust. Third, the opposition fears the post-election criticism addressed to them. In addition, people remember the period of opposition’s reign. It is possible to list the reasons for a long time but the main fact is that opposition has turned into a passive ‘force’ without social base, support or influence.

Tamilla Sencaply
News.Az