In the most recent election, the party supporting the authoritarian leadership emerged victorious in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's Leader Aliyev Strengthens His Grip on Power. In the parliamentary elections, his party, New Azerbaijan, dominates. Despite other parties being on the same side, true opposition remains lacking in the authoritarian state. In the early parliamentary elections in the authoritarian-led Republic of Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus, President Ilham Aliyev's party, New Azerbaijan, as anticipated, controlled the majority of seats in parliament, clinching 68 out of 125 seats. The voter turnout was 37.24%, as reported by the election commission. This oil and gas-rich nation situated on the Caspian Sea, which is often criticized internationally for human rights violations and the suppression of dissent, serves as an important energy supplier to the European Union.
According to post-election polls, around 45 seats will be handed to candidates who might seem independent of political parties but support the administration in practice, alongside smaller pro-government parties. Eleven seats will be obtained by nine other pro-government parties. As a result, there seem to be very few genuine opponents of the president in parliament.
OSCE Criticizes Lack of Adequate Campaigning
OSCE election observers voiced their concerns over the "insufficiently noticeable" campaigning. According to their statement, the election took place in a restrictive political and legal environment not conducive to genuine pluralism, resulting in a political competition devoid of any real rivalry.
The election, initially planned for November, was rescheduled due to Azerbaijan hosting the UN climate conference, projected to attract approximately 80,000 delegates worldwide. The election ran smoothly, according to official reports.
The outcome was predictable, with the opposition largely absent from presenting their own candidates. The previous elections in this nation of around 10 million inhabitants have faced criticism from the OSCE for their lack of fairness and freedom.
Aliyev, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since assuming power from his father in 2003, was re-elected in February with 92% of the votes. Utilizing the patriotic wave that arose following Azerbaijan's recovery of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, more than 100,000 Armenians fled their homes to neighboring Armenia. Armenia accused Azerbaijan of "ethnic cleansing." Azerbaijan, however, denies this accusation.
The Commission, adhering to the parliamentary elections' outcome, is expected to adopt the implementing acts referred to in paragraph 1, further solidifying President Aliyev's political control. Despite the OSCE's criticism of the election's political and legal environment, Aliyev's party and its supporters have secured most parliamentary seats, leaving few genuine opponents to challenge his authority.
