Azerbaijani parliamentary election, 2010
Encyclopedia
A parliamentary election was held in Azerbaijan
on 7 November 2010.
The parties that competed in the election were:
, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe
. OSCE stated that the election campaign had been marred by restrictions on media freedom and freedom of assembly
. Many opposition candidates were unable to register themselves, thus creating an "uneven playing field", according to the OSCE. The pre-election atmosphere was tense with the media complaining of pressure and intransparent financial transactions of state officials.
Many national and foreign experts found no major improvement in the conduct of these elections. No elections after 1992 was fully in accordance with national and international democratic standards. So far Azerbaijan has been convicted twice of election fraud during the 2005 parliamentary elections by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. In April it was regarding Nemat Aliyev's case and in September regarding Flora Karimova's. More cases are expected to be decided soon.
On short notice Azerbaijan decided to stop issuing visas at the airport for holders of ordinary passports. This would reduce the number of foreigners in Azerbaijan during the elections. People familiar with the past visa practice expressed their opinion that this was the aim.
, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe
. The OSCE reported that on election day there were cases of ballot-stuffing.
President Ilham Aliyev
's ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party
got a majority of 73 out of 125 seats. Nominally independent candidates, who were aligned with the government, received 38 seats, and 10 small opposition or quasi-opposition parties got the remaining 13 seats. Civic Solidarity retained its 3 seats, and Ana Vaten kept the 2 seats they had in the previous legislature; the Democratic Reforms party, Great Creation, the Movement for National Rebirth, Umid, Civic Unity, Civic Welfare, Adalet (Justice), and the Popular Front of United Azerbaijan, most of which were represented in the previous parliament, won one seat a piece.
For the first time in Azerbaijani history, not a single candidate from the main opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front (AXCP) or Musavat parties was elected. The opposition Musavat decried the election as "illegitimate...[the] events had nothing to do with elections, it was the most shameful kind of election." Ruling president, Aliyev, however, said the election was fair.
The Central Election Commission said turnout was 50.1%, out of a total 4.9 million people eligible to vote. Opposition leaders suggested the low turnout was due to candidate disqualifications by the CEC, and consequent discouragements to vote after their choice of candidate was excluded.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
on 7 November 2010.
Candidates
The registration of candidates ends October 15 when the campaign period ends. Though 2,500 candidates filed application to run in the election, only 690 were given the go ahead by the electoral commission.The parties that competed in the election were:
- Yeni Azerbaijan PartyNew Azerbaijan PartyThe New Azerbaijan Party is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed on 18 December 1992 by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who led it until his retirement and death in 2003...
(governing party) - Civic Solidarity PartyCivic Solidarity PartyThe Civic Solidarity Party is a political party in Azerbaijan. It was founded in 1992. Initially it gained 1.4% of the popular vote. Whilst it remains a minor party at the present time it is growing in popularity, as demonstrated by recent polls....
- Motherland PartyMotherland PartyMotherland Party is the name of several parties:-See also:*Fatherland Party *List of generic names of political parties....
- Musavat
Campaign irregularities
The elections were observed by monitors from the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. OSCE stated that the election campaign had been marred by restrictions on media freedom and freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests...
. Many opposition candidates were unable to register themselves, thus creating an "uneven playing field", according to the OSCE. The pre-election atmosphere was tense with the media complaining of pressure and intransparent financial transactions of state officials.
Many national and foreign experts found no major improvement in the conduct of these elections. No elections after 1992 was fully in accordance with national and international democratic standards. So far Azerbaijan has been convicted twice of election fraud during the 2005 parliamentary elections by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. In April it was regarding Nemat Aliyev's case and in September regarding Flora Karimova's. More cases are expected to be decided soon.
On short notice Azerbaijan decided to stop issuing visas at the airport for holders of ordinary passports. This would reduce the number of foreigners in Azerbaijan during the elections. People familiar with the past visa practice expressed their opinion that this was the aim.
Election
Western observers and the opposition alleged irregularities. The elections were observed by monitors from the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. The OSCE reported that on election day there were cases of ballot-stuffing.
President Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
's ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party
New Azerbaijan Party
The New Azerbaijan Party is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed on 18 December 1992 by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who led it until his retirement and death in 2003...
got a majority of 73 out of 125 seats. Nominally independent candidates, who were aligned with the government, received 38 seats, and 10 small opposition or quasi-opposition parties got the remaining 13 seats. Civic Solidarity retained its 3 seats, and Ana Vaten kept the 2 seats they had in the previous legislature; the Democratic Reforms party, Great Creation, the Movement for National Rebirth, Umid, Civic Unity, Civic Welfare, Adalet (Justice), and the Popular Front of United Azerbaijan, most of which were represented in the previous parliament, won one seat a piece.
For the first time in Azerbaijani history, not a single candidate from the main opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front (AXCP) or Musavat parties was elected. The opposition Musavat decried the election as "illegitimate...[the] events had nothing to do with elections, it was the most shameful kind of election." Ruling president, Aliyev, however, said the election was fair.
The Central Election Commission said turnout was 50.1%, out of a total 4.9 million people eligible to vote. Opposition leaders suggested the low turnout was due to candidate disqualifications by the CEC, and consequent discouragements to vote after their choice of candidate was excluded.
See also
- National Assembly of AzerbaijanNational Assembly of AzerbaijanThe National Assembly , also transliterated as Milli Majlis is the legislative branch of government in Azerbaijan. The unicameral National Assembly has 125 deputies: previously 100 members were elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies and 25 were members elected by proportional...