Memorandum On the Presidential Elections 2013

Memorandum

On the Presidential Elections 2013

Participation of the Public Chamber (PC) in the Presidential Elections 2013 is widely discussed both in the mass-media and social networks. Guided by the democratic values and principles forming PC’s mission and activity is based on, PC considers public debates on issues which are important for the society to be essential and takes into consideration opinions stated during these debates to form its policy.

At the same time it is observed that due to the lack of information on PC’s tactics on Presidential Elections of 2013, some incorrect opinions and views are stated by the parties taking part in these debates. In turn it causes logical questions and indefiniteness both inside and outside of PC. In some cases opponents and antagonists of PC and democratic camp in general are eager to take advantage of these uncertainties in order to artificially deepen and exaggerate them.

Taking into account the above-mentioned public interest in these questions Coordinating Council of the PC considers it appropriate to disclose following related to the topic:

1. Large public interest in the issue of participation of the PC in the 2013 presidential elections is an indicator and example of the influence and role of PC in socio-political process going in Azerbaijan, along with a proof of PC being accepted as the main core of resistance to authoritarianism, the most organized center of power of democratic community, the main political alternative to the existing authorities. No near-term issue of importance, including the Presidential Elections of 2003 will be concluded without the participation of the PC and PC’s position will be taken into consideration.

2. It should be noted that PC is not an electoral bloc and is not created for the electoral campaign. PC is an organizational model for the alliance of the democratic powers of Azerbaijan (political opposition, free media, civil society representatives, progressive intelligentsia, and leaders of the youth movement) and should be considered as a Civil Movement with a main purpose to gain fundamental democratic changes and to change the regime. Taking all this into account, it is incorrect and baseless to think or state that PC was formed to make tactical decisions for the upcoming Presidential Elections, to decide the candidate or to support this decided candidate. Members of the PC, majority of the organizations in the PC, including leading oppositional parties- PFPA and Musavat believe that PC should continue its activity until the significant democratic changes are made and the regime is changed. All aforementioned consider that partnership within the PC should be a priority.   

3. It should be noted that the main political target of the PC is to achieve the conduction of the extraordinary Parliamentary Elections prior to the Presidential Elections and it remains as such. PC considers the chance that dynamics of the geopolitical processes and the social-political situation will cause significant changes in the country prior to the Presidential Elections 2013 to be very high and builds its activity in general and in regard to the upcoming Elections taking this into consideration. PC considers it appropriate to form and state its final position prior to the Elections in order to take all changes happened during that period into consideration and make necessary corrections to its position.

4. PC considers Presidential Elections of 2013 to be the most important element of the political process in the country and PC is building its strategy based upon this assumption. PC regards Presidential Elections of 2013 to be one of the most favorable opportunities for the society to bring Azerbaijan from autocracy to democracy and thinks that this opportunity should be used to its fullest potential. Formation of the democratic election environment, realization of political, legal and social reforms which PC promoted in its Roadmap to the Democracy plan will play a decisive role in the democratization of the country.

5. Prior to this memorandum, PC has already made a statement on the 2013 elections and wants to bring it to the attention. During the public debate on the name of the single candidate of the PC for the upcoming 2013 Presidential Elections, PC stated that it is not on the agenda and that this question is not being discussed. It was stated that PC considers wide alliance of the democratic powers to be useful and desirable for the upcoming Presidential Elections.

These statements are once again approved and PC regards that observations both within and outside of the PC- in the public opinion Chairman of Musavat Isa Gambar and Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Ali Karimli are considered to be candidates of the democratic circles. But the idea that there can be a third candidate should not be neglected.

6. At this stage PC considers any statements and decisions to participate in the elections by members of PC to be natural and does not consider such moves to be contrary to the interests of the PC. At this stage PC respects all such statements and decisions and considers it acceptable and regards all who decided to be candidates to be “candidates to the candidacy”. PC will continue to evaluate all these issues with other democratic powers, most especially with the Forum of the Intellectuals until the reasonable time prior to the election.    

     

Taking all of the abovementioned into consideration PC states that improvements to the Elections Code, formation of the democratic election environment and formation of the big coalition of the democratic powers in order to undertake these changes is its priority at the current time. PC considers necessary the completion of the election strategy and elections platform for the upcoming elections.

PC will continue to inform the public on the its position and decisions regarding the Presidential Elections 2013 in the regular fashion. 

     

September 5, 2012