The proposed amendments and additions to Azerbaijan’s Constitution is a logical continuation of constitutional reforms, head of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy and State Building Ali Huseynli said in a statement to APA.

He noted that such steps had been taken before. The issue is that Azerbaijan stands out among other countries with its rapid economic development and playing an increasing role in the region. For this reason, new amendments and additions are required. Ali Huseynli thinks that institutional reforms carried out in this context in the institution of executive power are more important. These are the proposed provisions on creating the institute of vice-presidents in Azerbaijan. The people have been observing the president personally heading the implementations.

“In other words, the president seems to be implementing these reforms mostly through the administration. Although, the Cabinet of Ministers exists, decisions are being made within a period of time. But we observe the decisions made by the president are being implemented far more rapidly. So, creating the institute of vice-presidents appointed by the president is becoming a necessity. This is a reality observed in all areas of economy,” he said.

Huseynli highlighted the sharp contrast between the speed with which the reforms implemented in recent years and the Cabinet of Ministers’ control system: "Of course, the Cabinet of Ministers in accordance with the constitution and the law has its own powers and enforcement mechanism. The Cabinet of Ministers is a collegial body. In connection with the legal part I can say that the adoption of a large number of documents, legislation takes time. The Cabinet of Ministers is considering these documents, and, as a collegial body, will forward them to the relevant ministries, where they prepare, endorse them and then again hand them over back to the Cabinet of Ministers. Sometimes this process can take months, but today the level of development of Azerbaijan, its role in the region and in the world, requires rapid, sometimes days long, hours long decision making and execution. In this situation, the Cabinet of Ministers has no mechanisms and appropriate skills for rapid response and. Since that time, we have not noticed the Cabinet of Ministers heading the reforms. All initiatives in the economy and other important areas come from the president, we see the implementation of these decisions taking place in the presidential administration. Therefore, the establishment of the institute of vice-presidents as a result of the amendments and additions to the constitution is a very important step for Azerbaijani statehood,” he noted.

Huseynli said the removal of restrictions due to the age limit in the structures of power is very progressive: "Firstly, when the previous referendum restriction was lifted requirements for presidential candidates in the election of one person more than twice, the idea was not that any conditions or limitations were created for the selected person. The idea was that the voting person should have vast opportunities. Because Article 100 had been a topic of long discussions about the requirements for presidential candidates.

We then told to people that the idea was to give the voting citizen, the right to choose a man of their choice. From this point of view, the current proposed changes are a continuation of the constitutional reform carried out in the last referendum.

The idea here is that the person with the right to vote should have the right to be elected too. From this point of view, constitutional reforms held recently in Azerbaijan, are creating more opportunities. We eliminate the restrictions. The idea behind the lifting of the restriction on re-election more than twice was about this. The voting citizen determines to choose one or more times. It is a question that is based on the desire and the will of the people. From this point of view, the abolition of the age limit is a very important stage of a constitutional reform.

Voters who want to see the power of a candidate will be able to vote for them, regardless of age. So it not right to comment on the constitution from the perspective of history, the role of historical figures at any particular age.

The Constitution in the first place is a legal document based the idea and purpose connected with the right to vote. The proposed changes are based on respect for the right of citizens to elect and be elected, it provides greater opportunities for all citizens. I am sure that our citizens will vote in favor of the wider strata in all structures of power,” he said.

The chairman of the committee stressed that the additions and changes to the constitution are designed to provide a more flexible management, both in the executive and in all government structures in the modern period: "At the current stage of our development, the amendments and additions to the constitution will play a new and fundamental role in the future Azerbaijan ``s development,” he concluded.

More about: