02 August 2008, 15:24
Ilkham Aliev nominated candidate to run for presidency in Azerbaijan
Ilkham Aliev, the incumbent president, has again been nominated to run for presidents' post in the country at today's regular 4th congress of the ruling party "Еni Azerbaijan" (PEA). The congress delegates have unanimously supported the candidature of Ilkham Aliev to run for presidency as PEA member.
One more party has today nominated its candidate for presidency. During the meeting of the initiative group "Green Policy", the "Green" party of Azerbaijan has nominated Mais Gulaliyev, its chairman, to run for presidency at the coming election in autumn.
Meanwhile, opposition parties "Musavat" and the Democratic Party have decided to boykott the election. Most "Musavat" members have taken a decision on the boykott because they do not see any sense in taling part in it. Isa Gambar, the party leader, supports this opinion. "Those wishing to boykott the election are in the majority. I think it is correct not to take part in it, too", stated I.Gambar in Mejlis.
The Democratic Party has also decided not to take part in the election. Its leader Sardar Dzhalaloglu states that it is senseless for his party to participate in the election. "The elections are over for us today. We have not taken any decision to boykott it, we have simply decided to step aside. We have been forced to do it due to the position of the West and the pre-election situation ", said Dzhalaloglu.
Many political analysts and observers, when commenting on the presidential campaign which started this week in Azerbaijan, note that the incumbent president Aliev is the absolute favourite and forecast the same situation up to the voting day.
Author: Rafael Gasanov, CK correspondent