Azernews.Az

By Gunay Hasanova

The social base of Azerbaijani opposition is equal to zero, Ali Ahmadov, deputy prime minister and deputy chairman-executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, has said.

“Everyone is already accustomed to this reality, so any unsuccessful attempt of the opposition shouldn’t be a surprise,” Ahmadov said on September 19, commenting on the opposition’s unsuccessful rally on the eve of the upcoming referendum in Azerbaijan.

“Some opposition circles’ speaking against the referendum can be seen as an attempt to go against the stream,” said Ahmadov.

“Against the backdrop of the great trust in the president’s initiative, it is impossible to describe the attempts of campaigning against the referendum in another way, especially when this is done by an opposition group that has completely lost its social base,” he added.

“The current opposition is nothing more than a paltry inactive group which has lost all political resources and prospects,” said the official.

He noted that during the rally the National Council paid more attention to other issues instead of the referendum or the proposed amendments to the constitution.

“Perhaps, the National Council considered it a very promising tactical move to discuss the economic and social problems under the pretext of protesting the referendum. The failed rally showed that they are wrong as always. Even the small-numbered supporters of the opposition see the rally as an entertainment,” said Ahmadov

The deputy prime minister pointed out that people expect the settlement of the economic and social problems not from the opposition, but from the authorities.

“The Azerbaijani president’s strategy of new economic and social reforms has entered its active phase. No one doubts that the results will be seen soon,” said Ahmadov.

“The referendum, which envisages important political reforms, is aimed at completing the president’s program of reforms. People believe in positive results of these reforms and in this aspect, the opposition’s remarks on economic and social problems lack sincerity and no one wants to listen to them,” he added.

Azerbaijan’s greatest wealth is its continuous and sustainable stability, Ahmadov added.

Previously, lawyer of the “Civil Society” agitation group, MP Bakhtiyar Aliyev also said that the upcoming referendum on amendments and additions to the Constitution of Azerbaijan is a logical continuation of the ongoing reforms in the area of state building, adding that the current level of Azerbaijan’s development makes it necessary to make changes and additions to the Constitution.

September 26, 2016, was set as the date for the referendum on proposed changes to the constitution of Azerbaijan.

The Electoral Code of Azerbaijan indicates that the day of the popular vote should be non-working.

In a bill recently sent to the Constitutional Court, President Ilham Aliyev proposed amendments to 29 Articles of Azerbaijan’s current constitution. The changes envisage the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, the establishment of the first vice-president and vice-president positions in the country as well as the abolishment of minimum age limit for presidential candidates, dissolution of parliament by the president.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has so far registered 846 observers for the upcoming referendum. The district polling stations have registered 37,429 observers.

Final results of the Referendum will be announced until October 21.

The last time changes to the Constitution were made seven years ago, following Constitutional referendum held in 2009.

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