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Azerbaijani CEC approves 12 candidates for Oct 9 presidential election

The candidates are Khafiz Gadjiyev, head of the Modern Musavat party

BAKU, August 17 (Itar-Tass) - Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission on Saturday, August 17, approved more candidates’ presidential bids for the upcoming election slated for October 9.

The candidates are Khafiz Gadjiyev, head of the Modern Musavat party; Faraj Guliyev, head of the National Revival Movement; MP Zahid Orudj; and political scientist Arastun Orujlu, who is also the head of the East-West Research Centre. The latter two intend to run as independent candidates.

This is the third election for Gadjiyev. He ran for presidency in 2003 and 2008. At the previous election he received 0.65 percent of votes.

According to the national legislation, an approved candidate should collect 40,000 signatures in his support, after which he can be entitled to state registration in the Central Election Commission.

The Commission has approved 12 candidates up to date. These include incumbent Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is the head of the ruling Eni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) party; Azadlyg (Freedom) party leader Ahmed Orudj; Umid (Hope) party leader Igbal Agazade; lawyer Ilgar Mamedov; Liberal Democratic Party leader Fuad Aliyev; Citizens and Development Party leader Ali Aliyev; Social Democratic Party leader Araz Alizade; and Azerbaijani Popular Front Party leader Gudrat Gasanguliyev.

All of them have already started collecting signatures in their support.

According to Ilham Aliyev’s election headquarters, the ruling party has finished collecting signatures and will submit them to the Central Election Commission on August 20.

Fifteen potential presidential candidates have submitted their bids to the Central Election Commission.

The presidential election in Azerbaijan is scheduled for October 9. The head of state is elected for five years