SOCIETY 370 / 2016

DIPLOMATIE
ASERBAIDSCHAN
Fotos:nikolai fokscha, jewgenia stasiok, arne müseler, shahsultan hassanov
Bajterek Tower in
Astana
additional rights to them for the same purpose
and assume progressive essence.
The equalizing of the age censure (18 years
old) for participation and voting rights in the
elections was a logical consequence. According
to the applicable constitution, a citizen has to
be over 25 years old for participating in deputy
elections. According to the results of the referendum,
the words “not under 25 years old” will be
replaced with the words “eligible for participating
in the elections” in the Part I of the Article 85.
Every citizen of the Azerbaijan Republic, who is
eligible for participating in the elections, has the
right for being elected as a deputy of the Milli Mejlis
of the Azerbaijan Republic. That is, according
to the Article 56 of the Constitution, every citizen
of the Azerbaijan Republic who has reached the
age of 18 years, is highly educated, and without
dual citizenship may be elected as a deputy (except
those whose disability was certified).
This change is first of all important because
the Azeri population consists mostly of young
people. This generation, who was brought up
with the ideology of Azerbaijanism, the faithfulness
regarding the national and moral values
of our country, plays an important role in the
economic and cultural development of Azerbaijan
and gains more possibilities for realizing of
their full potential. These changes, made to the
constitution, will broaden the opportunities of
the young people in participating in the elective
bodies and increase their role in realizing
large-scale reforms in our republic. Nevertheless,
this change does not give every citizen who has
reached the age of 18, the opportunity for being a
deputy. Higher education and most importantly,
his gaining of the electors’ votes are also important
conditions for that to happen.
A change to be made to the Article 100 of the
Constitution is also of great importance. By that
change, the words “over thirty five years old” are
removed from Article 100, that is, the age qualification
of 35 years old considered for participating
in the presidential elections was eliminated. Imposing
an age qualification on the elective positions
may not be considered as just from the point
of political participation and interferes with the
rights of the people for making their choices. Removal
of the age qualification does not provide
any 18 year old person with an opportunity for
participating in the elections at all. Specification
of the law does not mean that every claimant will
be able to use it. A person is still required to be
highly educated and at least at the age of 18.
By the addition to be made to the Article 103
of the constitution, the establishment of the vicepresident’s
institute and defining of its legal in
Azerbaijan, may be considered as progressive
innovation from the point of conducting of the
state governance in quicker and more effective
ways. The establishment of new vice-presidents’
institute is connected with the necessity for
strengthening the verticality of executive power
and executive discipline in Azerbaijan. The establishment
of the same institute will also serve
for broadening of the sphere of the economic reforms
and their acceleration.
The replacement of the figure “5” with the
figure “7” in the Part I of the Article 101 of the
Constitution, that is, increasing of the president’s
term of office from 5 years to 7 years, provides the
head of the state with a necessary opportunity of
time for fulfilling the obligations undertaken before
the people. In some countries of the world,
the president’s term of office is also defined for
seven years.
In general, as the result of the last referendum,
23 changes and 6 additions have been made
to the Constitution, that fully meet the interests
and benefits of every citizen of Azerbaijan. These
reforms were also supported by the young people
who are considered as the leading flagmen class
of society and are appreciated with regard to the
development and progress of our country. We believe
that the reforms which are the next bright
display of the national confidence in the existing
political course, will enable Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the
President of Azerbaijan, to further accelerate the
reforms made in favor of the all-round development
and progress of our country. •
»These changes
to the constitution
will broaden
the opportunities
of the
young people
and increase
their role.
«
Shahsultan
Hassanov
SOCIETY 2_2016 | 95