DUSHANBE, September 5, Asia-Plus — Mr. Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, a spokesman for Tajikistan’s Islamic Revival Party (IRPT), says a candidate for the presidency needs at lest US$60,000 for carrying out a normal election campaign.
According to him, “expenses on carrying out agitation campaign in each of 68 constituencies may amount up to US $1000.” “In other words, 3,600 Somonis provided from the national budget for candidate to carry out election campaign is obviously not enough,” said Mr. Sayfullozoda, “Many may plead limited opportunities of the national budget, while on the other hand, the government can spend huge amounts for other events, and these funds are frequently spent without any limitation.”
On the issue of accreditation of international and local observers to monitor a voting process (we will recall that by the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda’s resolution accreditation of international observers should conclude 20 days before the election, and accreditation of local observers should conclude 10 days before the election), the IRPT spokesman said, “One the one had, we may admit that lists of observers should be submitted well in advance that will give an opportunity to create all necessary conditions for them, while on the other hand, because of limited term of accreditation many observers will not be able to participate in the election.”
On the collection of a necessary number of signatures for registration of candidate (person wanting to run for election should collect 160,000 signatures needed to register as a candidate – Asia-Plus), Mr. Sayfullozoda said that it depended on financial opportunities of political parties, “which are not equal.” “During election campaign a candidate will have to meet with his potential voters in large cities and remote districts, you know,” said the IRPT spokesman, “And this needs big expenses.” Therefore it will be impossible for some persons to collect this number of signatures, according to him.
Mr. Sayfullozoda considers that participation of representatives from all political parties in all-level electoral commissions is one of the main components of the holding of democratic, fair and transparent election.
