Mubariz Gurbanly: "Peter Semneby is mistaken, the electoral situation in Azerbaijan is developing normally and if someone wants it to be otherwise, this is his own business"

- The electoral situation in Azerbaijan is characterized by an incredible calmness of the sociopolitical life in the country even two days before the voting. The representatives of international organizations, including EU special envoy in the South Caucasus countries Peter Semneby, do not conceal their bewilderment on this issue. What can you say about it?

- I do not agree with this opinion. The electoral situation in Azerbaijan is normal. The agitation campaign of the presidential candidates continues. Agitation is held on radio and television, candidates are holding meetings and debates like it is usually done in the world. What is the difference between our situation and the situation in any other country?

I consider that Peter Semneby is mistaken, the electoral situation in Azerbaijan is developing normally and if someone wants it to be otherwise, this is his own business.

On the other, Azerbaijan is growing its experience of holding elections step by step. I consider that Peter Semneby's statement does not reflect the reality.

- In any case, the representatives of main powers of Azerbaijani opposition do not take part in elections. Has this influenced the electoral tactics of the ruling party?

- Our electoral tactics is not built on participation of any party or a candidate, it is built on the idea of victory at elections and we base our activity on this very tactics.

As for the non-participation of some parties in the elections, it is incorrect to call them the main opposition parties. The role and the place of a party in the society are defined before elections. The decision of some parties not to participate in the elections equals to the role of these parties in the society. Therefore, this decision does not have a decisive influence on the electoral campaign. Their participation or non-participation is not important for the society, for the Yeni Azerbaijan party and for the campaign.

Thus, I think, there is no need to substantiate the current electoral situation by someone's non-participation in the elections. I think the electoral situation is developing as it should be.

- How would you comment on the reports that some officials during the electoral campaign actively use an administrative resource, putting pressure on doctors, teachers and other employees of the state structures and forcing them to vote for the candidate from the ruling party?

- I have also come across such unfounded announcements in some mass media. This is a nonsense, which can not be commented on. Why should we use an administrative resource, if the number of the members of the Yeni Azerbaijan party makes 500,000 people, if 1.5 mln people, I mean the members of the party, directly support Ilham Aliyev and the remaining population also supports the president? Therefore, we have no need to use the administrative resource.

Before holding the electoral events in the regions, we merely declare them and people come by themselves and take part in them. We have organized great many of events in different regions and we have introduced the platform of our candidate, respected Ilham Aliyev, to each voter. His agents and party organizations have held more than a thousand of arrangements since September 17 on the spots.

Therefore, we do not need to use the administrative resource. Those, who say otherwise, can not list any fact proving their words. I think this is a black PR by some people.

- Do you consider any of the presidential candidate to be a serious rival for Ilham Aliyev and what is your forecast about the elections?

- Any candidate, participating in the elections, is a political opponent, but we do not build our forecasts on who of them will win the highest number of voters. Our forecast is that our candidate Ilham Aliyev will be supported by most voters and win. We do not build forecasts about whom will take the second and the third places.

- Are you confident that the remaining candidates will be able to gain just the second place?

- Yes, me, like most political scientists in Azerbaijan and out of its bounds, consider that the struggle between these candidates will be for the second and other places. Ilham Aliyev's rating is the highest, the president gained the citizens' trust by his actions. He has done much for Azerbaijan through the past five years, people see that and they will support Ilham Aliyev's course, the course of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

/Day.Az/