Earlier elections since independence from the Soviet Union within the Nineteen Nineties haven’t been thought to be absolutely free or truthful.
In a carefully watched snap election on Sunday, the nation’s ruling New Azerbaijan Occasion claimed a slender victory.
In line with exit polls, President Ilham Aliyev’s get together secured 68 out of 125 of the Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan’s parliament, barely down from its earlier rely of 69. The remainder of the seats went to small pro-government events or independents.
Some 990 candidates had been competing for 125 seats in parliament.
The vote was the primary for the reason that nation within the South Caucasus launched a lightning offensive final yr to regain full management of Nagorno-Karabakh, a former breakaway territory.
Earlier elections since independence from the Soviet Union within the Nineteen Nineties haven’t been thought to be totally free or truthful, and the vote for the Milli Mejlis is just not anticipated to deliver vital modifications to the physique dominated by Aliyev’s get together.
Aliyev’s father, Haidar, dominated Azerbaijan from 1993 till he died in 2003, then Ilham took over. Each have dominated with a heavy hand, suppressing dissent because the nation of just about 10 million individuals on the shores of the Caspian Sea accrued wealth from its huge oil and pure gasoline reserves.
In line with Azerbaijan’s structure, the election ought to have been held this November. Nonetheless, Aliyev moved the date ahead by two months to keep away from clashing with the COP29 UN local weather talks, which is able to happen within the capital, Baku.
Some 50 organisations had been assigned as unbiased observers, Azerbaijan’s Nationwide Election Fee mentioned. The OSCE, as the biggest observer organisation, is scheduled to current its preliminary evaluation afterward Monday.
For the primary time in three a long time, voting additionally passed off in Nagorno-Karabakh, symbolising Azerbaijan’s renewed management over the area.
