(Apr. 14, 2020) On April 9, 2020, the Parliament of Azerbaijan adopted in the second reading a draft law that, should it ultimately be enacted, would amend the Internal Regulations of the Parliament. The draft law would authorize the speaker of the Parliament to order the holding of parliamentary (plenary) meetings and the meetings of the committees and commissions of the Parliament via real-time use of videoconference systems if a motion related to the application of quarantine, sanitary-epidemiological, or similar measures were brought by 42 members of Parliament. Roll calls and voting would be authenticated via secure electronic signatures. Another draft law making an amendment to the same effect to the Law on Parliamentary Committees was also adopted in the April 9 meeting. The draft laws would be enacted upon passing the third reading and remain effective until December 30, 2020.
The Parliament of Azerbaijan has been using videoconferencing for meetings of parliamentary committees and commissions since March 18, following an order issued the same day by the speaker of the Parliament as part of the measures taken against the COVID-19 epidemic. The Parliament’s press service has since reported on numerous committee meetings that have been conducted via online means. The new amendment to the Internal Regulations would likewise allow plenary meetings to be held via videoconferencing.