Azerbaijani presidential election, 2008
Encyclopedia
A presidential election was held in Azerbaijan
on 15 October 2008. Ilham Aliyev
of the New Azerbaijan Party
was re-elected with 87% of the votes, according to official results. Several major political parties, including Musavat, the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party
, Azerbaijan Liberal Party
, and the Azerbaijan Democratic Party
boycotted the vote because of alleged poll-fixing and oppression of political opponents.
Campaigning officially began in mid-September. The candidates were limited to a four-week campaigning period by law. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, IRFS and RSF, the media (state-owned and private) showed bias in favor of Aliyev's candidacy.
(OSCE). The OSCE said that there was progress in the elections compared to past ones, however it did not meet international standards, because of the lack of competition to incumbent Ilham Aliyev. The NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, declared "He welcomes reports from the international election observers from OSCE, Council of Europe and the European Parliament indicating progress in the conduct of Azerbaijan’s presidential elections on 15 October 2008. Azerbaijan should build on this achievement and address the remaining shortcomings that were noted."
Avez Temirhan of the election-boycotting Azerbaijan Liberal Party
said, "This leadership is not legitimate and its election does not reflect the will of the people."
The incumbent, Ilham Aliyev, won the election with over 87.34% of the votes, and Igbal Aghazade came in second with 2.82% of the votes. Voter turnout was 75.64%. Fuad Aliyev and Hafiz Hajiev, as in 2003, received fewer votes than supporting signatures. Eight polling places' votes were invalidated.
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 15 October 2008. 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...
of the New 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...
was re-elected with 87% of the votes, according to official results. Several major political parties, including Musavat, the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party
Azerbaijan Popular Front Party
The Azerbaijani Popular Front Party is the main opposition political party in Azerbaijan, founded in 1992 by Abulfaz Elchibey. After Elchibey's death in 2000, the party split into two factions, the reform wing led by Ali Kerimli and the classical wing led by Mirmahmud Miralioglu.During 5 November...
, Azerbaijan Liberal Party
Azerbaijan Liberal Party
The Azerbaijan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in Azerbaijan.It was founded on 3 June 1995 by the former Secreatry of State of Azerbaijan Prof. Dr. Lala Shevket on the Constituent Conference held in the town of Barda in the unoccupied part of Qarabagh region of Azerbaijan...
, and the Azerbaijan Democratic Party
Azerbaijan Democratic Party
The Azerbaijan Democratic Party ADP .-History:The Azerbaijan Democratic Party was established on January 26, 1991 by the participants of 27 persons. On October 17, it was registered by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic...
boycotted the vote because of alleged poll-fixing and oppression of political opponents.
Background
The incumbent, Ilham Aliyev, was nominated by the New Azerbaijan Party for a second term on 3 August 2008. Musavat, the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, the Azerbaijan Liberal Party, the Citizen and Progress Party, and the Azerbaijan Democratic Party announced their boycott of the election due to unfair conditions. In response, an aide to Aliyev claimed that the opposition withdrew because it "knew that President Aliyev would win the elections with a majority." A total of seven candidates filed to run in the election. Each of the candidates had to collect 40,000 support signatures.Campaigning officially began in mid-September. The candidates were limited to a four-week campaigning period by law. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, IRFS and RSF, the media (state-owned and private) showed bias in favor of Aliyev's candidacy.
The election
The election was observed by more than 500 international observers, mostly from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
(OSCE). The OSCE said that there was progress in the elections compared to past ones, however it did not meet international standards, because of the lack of competition to incumbent Ilham Aliyev. The NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, declared "He welcomes reports from the international election observers from OSCE, Council of Europe and the European Parliament indicating progress in the conduct of Azerbaijan’s presidential elections on 15 October 2008. Azerbaijan should build on this achievement and address the remaining shortcomings that were noted."
Avez Temirhan of the election-boycotting Azerbaijan Liberal Party
Azerbaijan Liberal Party
The Azerbaijan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in Azerbaijan.It was founded on 3 June 1995 by the former Secreatry of State of Azerbaijan Prof. Dr. Lala Shevket on the Constituent Conference held in the town of Barda in the unoccupied part of Qarabagh region of Azerbaijan...
said, "This leadership is not legitimate and its election does not reflect the will of the people."
Results
A total of seven candidates registered with the Central Election Commission.The incumbent, Ilham Aliyev, won the election with over 87.34% of the votes, and Igbal Aghazade came in second with 2.82% of the votes. Voter turnout was 75.64%. Fuad Aliyev and Hafiz Hajiev, as in 2003, received fewer votes than supporting signatures. Eight polling places' votes were invalidated.
| Azerbaijani presidential election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | |
| New Azerbaijan 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... |
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... (incumbent Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... ) |
3,232,259 | 87.34% | |
| Azerbaijan Hope Azerbaijan Hope Party The Party of Hope is an Azerbaijani political party, officially registered in 1993. In December 2002, a fraction of the Civic Unity Party led by Igbal Agazade split from CUP and joined the Party of Hope... |
Igbal Aghazade | 104,279 | 2.82% | |
| Great Creation Great Order Party The Great Order Party is a political party in Azerbaijan.At the parliamentary elections of 6 November 2005 the party won 1 out of 125 seats.... |
Fazil Mustafayev | 89,985 | 2.43% | |
| Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party The Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party is a political party in Azerbaijan. At the parliamentary elections of 6 November 2005 the party won 1 out of 125 seats.... |
Gudrat Hasanguliyev | 83,037 | 2.24% | |
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Gulamhuseyn Alibayli | 81,120 | 2.19% | |
| Liberal-Democrat | Fuad Aliyev | 28,423 | 0.77% | |
| Modern Equality Modern Equality Party The Modern Equality Party is a political party in Azerbaijan.Its candidate Hafiz Haciyev won 0.3% of the popular vote in the 15 October 2003 presidential elections... |
Hafiz Hajiyev | 23,771 | 0.64% | |
| Invalid or blank votes | 57,760 | 1.56% | ||
| Totals | 3,700,634 | 100.00% | ||
| Voter turnout | 75.64% | |||