Azerbaijan invites OSCE to monitor constitution referendum

Baku has invited the OSCE to monitor a referendum on amendments to the Azerbaijani constitution, local media said.


The organization will process Baku's invitation at its next meeting on September 5, the media said.


On July 18, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev submitted to the Constitutional Court a draft act on a referendum regarding constitutional amendments. For instance, he proposed to establish the positions of first vice-president and vice-presidents and to extend the president's tenure from five to seven years.


Other constitutional amendments enable the head of state to declare an early presidential election. The period assigned for holding early elections in the event of the president's resignation may be cut from three months to 60 days.


The Azerbaijani constitution may be amended with a clause on disbandment of the Milli Majlis (parliament) and lower age qualification for parliament candidates
the right to run for parliament will be given to all eligible voters older than 18. So far, only people older than 25 can be elected to parliament.
The Azerbaijani Constitutional Court approved a draft act on a referendum at a meeting on July 25.


The referendum will be held on September 26, 2016. Its results will be announced before October 21.

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