Azeri opposition party barred from monitoring 26 Sep referendum

A leading opposition party in Azerbaijan has been barred from monitoring the 26 September constitutional referendum in the country, APA news agency said on 27 August.


At today's meeting, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) decided not to register the campaign group Respublika (Republic) set up by the opposition Musavat Party "as the number of signatures was less than the required amount", APA said.


In another report, APA news agency quoted the chairman of the CEC, Mazahir Panahov, as saying that 16 "observers" were registered and that there are observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of the Independent States (CIS) among them.


The constitutional amendments to be put on referendum on 26 September propose increasing the presidential term of office from five to seven years, giving the president the right to dissolve parliament, decide on snap presidential elections, and appoint the first vice-president, who would take over the president's office if the latter is unable to fulfil his duties. The opposition sees the amendments as attempt to increase the powers of the incumbent president.

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