Early elections for Azerbaijan's parliament take place, leaving opposition without prospects.
The parliamentary elections in the Caspian nation of Azerbaijan took place earlier than planned. Originally set for November, the voting was hurried due to Azerbaijan hosting the UN's climate conference. This international gathering is projected to attract about 80,000 attendees from across the globe. The polling process reportedly proceeded without any issues, as reported by local press outlets. At the moment, no official election results have been disclosed.
It's likely that the ruling party, New Azerbaijan, will garner a substantial majority of the 120 parliamentary seats. Most of the remaining seats have been claimed by pro-government contingents.
There's no indication of a power shift in the authoritarian government directed by President Ilham Aliyev. With the opposition largely absent from the polls, except for a few, it's not expected that they will adversely affect Aliyev's control. In February, following a triumphant reclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in September 2023, Aliyev won re-election. Over 100,000 Armenians left their home residencies to settle in adjacent Armenia at that time.
Despite the smooth conduct of the elections, there have been reports of minor incidents of protests outside polling stations, expressing dissent over the lack of opposition participation. Given the international presence due to the UN climate conference, these incidents have drawn attention and concern from some foreign observers.
