Azerbaijan to hold constitutional referendum today

September 26, is the day of constitutional referendum in Azerbaijan.
 
On July 18, Azerbaijani PresidentIlham Aliyev submitted a draft Referendum Act "On Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan" to the country’s Constitutional Court for consideration.
 
The draft Referendum Act proposes 39 annexes and amendments to 29 articles of the Constitution.
 
The Constitutional Court approved the draft Referendum Act on July 25.   
 
According to the document, it’s planned to extend the presidential term from 5 years to 7 years.  
 
It is proposed to remove the paragraph "no younger than 35” in the Constitution on requirements to candidates to the post of the President of Azerbaijan. Also, it is proposed to establish first vice-president and vice-president positions in Azerbaijan.
 
Under to the effective Constitution, whenever the President of Azerbaijan resigns from his post ahead of time, the country’s Prime Minister carries out presidential powers. However, according to the proposed amendments, the first Vice-President is authorized to carry out the presidential powers.
 
The document also gives the Azerbaijani President additional power to dissolve the parliament and declare early presidential elections.
 
Additionally, according to the proposed amendments, persons who have the right to participate in the elections (at the age of 18) can be elected to Milli Majlis (parliament). Previously, persons no younger than 25, had the right to be elected to the parliament.
 
The draft amendments also contain a constitutional ban on the establishment of associations that might pose a threat to the country’s national security.
 
The effective Azerbaijani Constitution does not authorize the country’s President (as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces), in contrast to army officer, to give direct orders to the commands of the National Guard and Internal Troops as well as officers of the Armed Forces. According to the proposed amendments, the Armed Forces will consist of the Azerbaijani Army and other armed formations. Thus, the President of Azerbaijan will also be the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of armed formations.
 
Moreover, the draft Referendum Act provides greater protection of human rights and freedoms. 
 

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