ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Azerbaijan, Controversial constitutional referendum passed, European Forum, 2009

On 18 March, a constitutional referendum was held in Azerbaijan. A total fo 41 amendments to 29 articles have been made to the Constitution, including article 101 (V), which used to state that a President can only be elected for consecutive terms. Western critics say that the referendum is a real challenge to the democratisation process of the country.

Azerbaijani Parliament Approves Referendum On Presidential Term Limit, RFE/RL (2008)

Azerbaijan's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to hold a referendum early next year to remove the limit on presidential terms, potentially extending four decades of dynastic rule in the oil-rich state.

Non-Participation of Some Oppositional Parties Cannot Hurt Legitimacy of Elections: CEC Chairman, Trend News (2008)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 July / Trend News / E.Babayev / The Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission (CEC) stated that non-participation of some oppositional parties in the elections cannot damage the legitimacy of the process.

Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan Increases Number of Training Group Members, Trend News (2008)

The number of the members of the training group at the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) is being further increased. “A secretariat has been set up in the district election commissions recently and workers employed there will become involved in the training groups as a result of which the members of the training group will reach about 267,” Mazahir Panahov, CEC chairman said in the training organized by the Central Election Commission and Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

Azerbaijan: results of opinion poll on upcoming presidential elections, ACSDA (2008)

The Azerbaijani ELS Independent Investigation Centre publicized results of opinion poll held amongst 6,000 people in the first half of August in connection with the presidential elections. A total of 78.3% of people participating in this opinion poll supported Ilham Aliyev, the incumbent.

Venice Commission of Council of Europe Calls on Azerbaijani Opposition to Take Part in Presidential Elections, Trend News (2008)

he Council of Europe called on the Azerbaijani opposition to take part in the presidential elections. “There are certain rules of political games all over the world and every political power must take part in the voting,” Gianni Buquicchio, Secretary of the Venice Commission said to media in Baku on 15 July.

Azerbaijan: Central Electoral Commission announced the Election Day (2008)

Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CEC) conducted its session headed by Mr. Mazahir Panahov on July 28, 2008. CEC Chairman reported on the activities carried out by the Commission up to date and declared 15 October 2008 as the date of Presidential Elections.

President of Azerbaijan to be nominated as official candidate for presidency, Today.az (2008)

The fourth session of the ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan nominated the incumbent president and party chairman Ilham Aliyev as a candidate for presidency.

ODIHR begins monitoring of Azerbaijan's Presidential Elections, OSCE-ODIHR(2008)

Following an invitation from Azerbaijan's Government, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) this week deployed an election observation mission to observe the 15 October presidential election in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan: presidential poll marked considerable progress, but did not meet all election commitments, OSCE/ODIHR (2008)

Presidential election in Azerbaijan marked considerable progress, but did not meet all of the country's international commitments, observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament (EP) concluded in a joint statement published on 16 October 2008.

16 political parties nominate for municipal elections in Azerbaijan: CEC, 2009 (Trend.az)

16 political parties nominated for municipal elections in Azerbaijan. Municipal elections in Azerbaijan will be held on December 23. Of the candidates, 7,057 people are independent, others represent 28 political parties. 17 political parties officially joined the election.

Lack of popular support is key reason for split within Azerbaijan’s opposition, 2009, (Today.az)

"Azerbaijani opposition parties’ establishing in a single bloc under a slogan of unification and subsequent withdrawals from it and splits have become common,” member of Azerbaijani parliament from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party and NAP Deputy executive Secretary Mubariz Gurbanli said commenting on a recent split inside the Azerbaijan opposition.

Municipal Elections In Azerbaijan Will Be Held On December 23, 2009 (Azerireport)

Azerbaijan’s next municipal elections are scheduled for December 23, 2009. This decision was adopted by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan on October 7... Currently, municipalities have very little power. All questions are resolved by the executive local authorities appointed by the central government.

Azerbaijan will not cancell Parliamentary Elections, 2009 (Today.az)

"Azerbaijan has money to hold elections, moreover, we can offer assistance to other states to hold elections,” Presidential Administration Socio-Political Department Chief Ali Hasanov said while commenting on MP Aydin Hasanov’s proposal to postpone the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan: Council of Europe mission to observe municipal elections, 2009 (APA)

Mission of the Council of Europe Congress of Regional and Local Authorities will observe municipal elections in Azerbaijan on December 23, 2009. It would be small and short-term mission, which would arrive in Azerbaijan few days before the elections and observe the voting process.

Azerbaijan: OSCE holds information session on non-interference in electoral process, 2009 (Today.az)

OSCE Office in Baku organized information session on non-interference in electoral process in Ganja. Head of the OSCE Office in Baku Ambassador Ali Bilge Cankorel said the OSCE wouldn’t observe the municipal elections on December 23.

Azerbaijan: Problems related to residence registration of voters need to be addressed, 2009 (Azerbaijan Today)

"Registering citizens is a common problem in all elections in Azerbaijan. A voter must live at least 6 months in this or that area in order to be included in voters' list. It is impossible to create a permanent or temporary living database for citizens in Azerbaijan, which has 4.5 million voters," said Shahin Aliyev, the Head of the Legislation and Legal Examination Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, said.

Azerbaijan Electoral Management Body

Here is a link to the official website of the Azerbaijan Electoral Management Body

Azerbaijan: Presidential Elections 2008

A website covering 15 October 2008 Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan.

Election Results - Azerbaijan