In an interview with Azerbaijani ANS television, Mazahir Panahov, chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, CEC, spoke about the forthcoming parliamentary elections on 5th November. Panahov said he was satisfied with the process so far and confirmed that despite continued appeals to register, the ballot papers were already being printed. Commenting on President Heydar Aliyev's decision to allow the unregistered parties to run in the elections, Panahov denied that this had been interference in the work of the CEC and said that Aliyev had taken a wise step. He said it had been impossible to consider all the complaints within the framework of the CEC and that the majority of complaints had come from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. Panahov also commented on the source of funds to run in the election and confirmed that there was an official mechanism for distributing the funds which came from the Finance Ministry and that the majority of the money was being spent on salaries.
Complaints concerning district electoral commissions continue to come to the capital.
Those who have registered, who we can consider the happy ones, are complaining over improper attitudes. You know that the elections will be held on 5th November. So, it is such a short time. You know that we have too little information from the courts, the nominees are appealing to the courts directly. But I do not consider that this is the majority of them, because we have already got the official reports about the majority of those who did not appeal to the courts.