Azerbaijan's Presidential Election: Process And Outcome

The President of Azerbaijan is the head of state and head of the executive branch of the country. The president is elected by the people and holds significant power, including being the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and having the right of immunity from prosecution. Since 2003, Ilham Aliyev, the son of former president Heydar Aliyev, has been in power. In this article, we will explore the process of how Azerbaijan elects its president and the implications of the country's electoral system.

Electoral process and requirements

The President of Azerbaijan is the head of state and head of the executive branch. The people of Azerbaijan directly elect the president through a majority vote. The president is elected for a seven-year term, and there is no limit to the number of terms one can serve. The president appoints the vice president and the prime minister, who is nominated by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan. The president also appoints all cabinet-level government administrators, including ministers and heads of other central and local executive bodies.

To be eligible to run for president, one must be an Azerbaijani citizen, over the age of 35, and have permanently resided in the country for at least 10 years. They must also have the right to vote, hold a university degree, and not have been convicted of a major crime.

Each faction in the National Assembly has the right to nominate a candidate for the presidential elections. The minimum number of signatures for a presidential candidate fielded by a political party with no parliamentary representation is 40,000.

The National Assembly of Azerbaijan, also known as the Milli Majlis, is the country's legislative body and consists of 125 deputies. These deputies are elected based on a majority system and through general, equal, and direct elections by free, private, and secret ballots. Every citizen of Azerbaijan who has reached the age of 18 can be elected as a deputy. However, those with dual citizenship, state service in other countries, or specific types of employment are ineligible to become deputies.

The ruling party in Azerbaijan, the New Azerbaijan Party, controls all the electoral commissions in the country. Since its independence from the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan's elections have been characterised by electoral fraud and other unfair practices, such as holding opposition politicians as political prisoners.

Election results and inauguration

Azerbaijan's presidential election process has been criticised by political scientists, who characterise the country as an "electoral authoritarian regime". The ruling New Azerbaijan Party, headed by current president Ilham Aliyev, controls all the electoral commissions in Azerbaijan.

The President of Azerbaijan is elected for a seven-year term by the people; before a constitutional referendum in 2009, the position was limited to two terms. The President is elected by a majority of two-thirds of voters participating in the voting.

The official inauguration ceremony of the president is not held publicly, but with the participation of officials of the Azerbaijan state, including representatives of political parties, public organisations, military personnel, and religious figures. The ceremony takes place within three days of the confirmation of the elected president by the Constitutional Court. During the ceremony, the president-elect takes an oath to "observe the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to protect the independence and territorial integrity of the state, and to serve the people with dignity". They then place their right hand on the Koran and take another oath to "remain faithful to the national moral values and traditions created by the Azerbaijani people for centuries". The president-elect then bows and kisses the Azerbaijani flag before giving a speech.

The most recent presidential election was held on 11 April 2018, and Aliyev won his fourth term in office. In December 2023, Aliyev announced a snap election, bringing forward the next election to February 2024.

Presidential term and re-election

The President of Azerbaijan is the head of state and head of the executive branch. The position is currently held by Ilham Aliyev, who was elected in 2003 and is the fourth president of the country.

The President of Azerbaijan is elected by the people for a term of seven years. The presidential term was extended from five years in a 2016 referendum. Prior to a 2009 referendum, the position was limited to two terms, but this is no longer the case. The President of Azerbaijan can now serve an unlimited number of terms.

The President of Azerbaijan is elected by general, equal, and direct elections, with voters casting their ballots in private. The President must be elected by a majority of two-thirds of voters participating in the election.

Each faction in the National Assembly has the right to nominate a candidate for the presidential elections. The minimum number of signatures for a presidential candidate fielded by a political party with no parliamentary representation is 40,000.

The President of Azerbaijan has extensive powers, including being the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and having the right of immunity from prosecution. They also have the power to declare martial law and to implement the country's foreign policy. The President is also responsible for appointing the Vice President and the Prime Minister, who is then confirmed by the National Assembly.

The role of the National Assembly

The National Assembly of Azerbaijan, known as the Milli Məclis, has 125 members. Each faction within the assembly has the right to nominate a candidate for presidential elections. The minimum number of signatures for a presidential candidate fielded by a political party with no parliamentary representation is 40,000.

The National Assembly also plays a role in approving the prime minister. The president appoints the prime minister with the consent of the National Assembly. The Assembly must adopt a resolution concerning the candidate for prime minister within one week of the president proposing them. If this procedure is violated, or if the Assembly rejects the president's candidate for prime minister three times, the president may appoint a prime minister without the Assembly's consent.

The National Assembly also confirms the Vice President, who is appointed by the president.

Azerbaijan's political system

Azerbaijan is a country with a strong presidential system. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state and the head of the executive branch of the country. The President is the embodiment of executive power and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The President also serves as the representative of Azerbaijan in foreign and domestic policies. The President rules through their executive office, the Presidential Administration, which consists of secretaries and departmental ministers. The President also has a Cabinet of Ministers regarding economic and social policy and a Security Council regarding foreign, military, and judicial matters.

The President of Azerbaijan is elected by the people for a term of seven years. There are no age restrictions for candidates, but they must be Azerbaijani citizens and have lived in the country for at least 10 years. Each faction in the National Assembly has the right to nominate a candidate for the presidential elections. The President is elected by a majority of two-thirds of voters participating in the voting.

The National Assembly, or Milli Majlis, is the legislative branch of the government. It has 125 members who are elected for a term of five years in single-seat constituencies. The legislative power of the Republic of Azerbaijan is vested in the Milli Majlis, and the deputies are elected based on a majority system and general, equal, and direct elections by free, private, and secret ballots.

The head of government, or Prime Minister, is nominated by the President and confirmed by the National Assembly. The President also appoints all cabinet-level government administrators, including ministers and heads of other central and local executive bodies. The Cabinet of Ministers is the highest executive body of Azerbaijan and is responsible for executing the policies of the President.

Azerbaijan has been characterised as an electoral authoritarian regime, with the ruling New Azerbaijan Party controlling all the electoral commissions in the country. Since 1993, Heydar Aliyev and his son, Ilham Aliyev, have been continuously in power. Ilham Aliyev has been the President since 2003 and has won elections in 2008, 2013, and 2018. He has been criticised by Western nations and human rights groups for allegedly muffling dissent and jailing opponents, which he denies.

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