Azerbaijan opposition alliance breaks up

The Musavat party has decided to leave the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) opposition bloc, the party said in a statement today.

The bloc was established in June to challenge President Ilham Aliyev in the Oct. 9 presidential election, which the incumbent won by 85 percent of the vote, according to official results.  

The bloc’s single candidate, Camil Hasanli, got only 5.5 percent. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the election fell short of international standards. 

“NCDF has completed its mission as the presidential election is over,” Musavat said. “A new situation that has taken shape after the election requires new models and blocs.”

The Popular Front of Azerbaijan Party, the other main party in NCDF, however, said it has no immediate plans to leave the bloc.

ANN.Az