Pənah Hüseyn holds a unique place in the Azerbaijani political arena. He served as Secretary of State from May 1992 to April 1993, and as Prime Minister from April to June 1993. From 2005 to 2010, he was a deputy of the 3rd convocation of the Milli Majlis.
Pənah Hüseyn is the chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXP), founded in 1999. This year, on June 16, he delegated the execution of the party chairman's powers to his deputy, Qiyas Sadıqov.
What role does Pənah Hüseyn currently play in the party's life? Have any politicians commented on this decision? What is his response to the allegations that he appointed Rasul Guliyev to a position in exchange for a bribe?
The Modern.az website interviewed former Prime Minister Pənah Hüseyn with these questions.
First, addressing the activities of the AXP, the politician stated that the party plans to hold a congress at the end of this year or early next year:
“I am still officially the chairman of the AXP according to the law “On Political Parties” and other legislative acts regulating the activities of parties. According to the relevant laws, a new chairman is elected only at a congress. The authorized representative of the party is registered as a legal fact in the Ministry of Justice. From that perspective, I remain the authorized person. According to the relevant article of the charter, the deputy exercises the powers of the chairman. We have one deputy according to the charter. Currently, Qiyas Sadıqov is exercising the powers of the party chairman.
The party is preparing to hold its extraordinary congress. The extraordinary congress is planned for the end of this year or the beginning of next year. The election of a new chairman will be on the agenda of the congress.”
P. Hüseyn said that after he handed over the chairman's powers to his deputy, some politicians called him to inquire about the reason:
"I have not yet left politics. I remain Pənah Hüseyn, former Secretary of State, ex-Prime Minister, former member of the Milli Majlis, and I am actively engaged in political activities, continuing my active role as a member of the party leadership and the Board of Directors."
The former Prime Minister stated that he occasionally follows the social media appearances of Rasul Guliyev, who was once his deputy:
“It would not be accurate to say that I regularly and systematically follow Rasul Guliyev's speeches. But of course, I also listen to him. On topics that interest me, I also look at other politicians and political scientists.”
Pənah Hüseyn responded to allegations that he once received money from Rasul Guliyev to appoint him as Deputy Prime Minister as follows:
“This is a very unserious claim. This is the first time I am hearing this from you. Until you asked this question, I had not encountered anyone, not even the harshest critics against us, making this claim.”
