Azerbaijan’s Ruling Party Secures Victory in Early Parliamentary Elections
Amidst accusations of irregularities, President Ilham Aliyev’s Yeni Azerbaijan Party has secured a comfortable majority in Azerbaijan’s snap parliamentary elections.
The elections, held on February 9th, 2024, saw Aliyev’s party win 68 out of 125 seats in the National Assembly, solidifying their grip on power. While 45 seats went to independent candidates, a further 11 were claimed by candidates representing nine other political parties, widely perceived as pro-government.
The snap election, called by President Aliyev himself, was strategically scheduled to avoid clashing with the COP29 climate summit, hosted by Baku from November 11-22. This move, however, drew criticism from opposition groups who saw it as a maneuver to limit scrutiny and potential disruptions to the ruling party’s campaign.
The election results have been met with mixed reactions. While supporters of the ruling party celebrate the victory as a testament to Aliyev’s leadership, particularly his role in Azerbaijan’s military success in reclaiming the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region from Armenian forces in 2020, others have raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
The opposition Musavat party, for instance, has alleged “widespread violations,” including instances of multiple voting. These claims, however, have been dismissed by the government and the election commission. International observers have yet to release their official reports on the conduct of the elections.
This victory extends the longstanding rule of the Aliyev family in Azerbaijan. Ilham Aliyev, who assumed the presidency in 2003 following the death of his father, Heydar Aliyev, has maintained a firm grip on power, overseeing a period of significant economic growth fueled by the country’s oil and gas reserves.
However, critics argue that this economic progress has not been matched by equivalent advancements in democratic freedoms and human rights. They point to restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, as well as the continued detention of political activists and journalists critical of the government.
The outcome of these elections will likely have significant implications for Azerbaijan’s political landscape in the coming years. It remains to be seen how the government will address the concerns raised by opposition groups and international observers regarding the electoral process and the country’s human rights record.
