ReAl proposes parliament to introduce direct election of Baku Mayor

The "Republican Alternative" Party (ReAl) submitted to the Azerbaijani parliament bills on direct election of the Baku Mayor, free tuition at universities, and resolution of the problem of debts on loans caused by the devaluation of the national currency.

In 2018, the ReAl's leaders decided to initiate the adoption of a bill on the special status of Baku and the establishment of the post of elected mayor. Members of the opposition parties interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have noted that it is first necessary to achieve the conditions under which the election will be democratic.

In 2001, when joining the Council of Europe (CE), Azerbaijan pledged to introduce the post of elected Mayor of Baku, but has not yet introduced it, notes Ilgar Mamedov, the ReAl's leader.

"Officials that are not accountable to citizens express the interests of the bureaucracy more than the interests of the population," he explained.

Residents of Baku should elect the Mayor directly, believes Natiq Jafarli, the ReAl's executive secretary.

Another bill provides for amendments to the state budget for 2019.

"We believe that the poor should also have the opportunity to study at universities, and therefore, higher education in public universities should be free," said Natiq Jafarli.

Another amendment which the ReAl proposes to introduce to the budget should "solve the problem of loan debts of the population and businesses to banks."

The ReAl's initiatives may be useful for the party in terms of working with voters and willingness to participate in legislative processes, but no more than that, believes political analyst Bakhtiyar Gadjiev.