Azerbaijani Presidential Elections

Dan Matza-Brown

 

SUMMARY

On October 11, 1998, Azerbaijan held its presidential elections, following months of protest by opposition forces. Opponents of Azeri President Heydar Aliyev insisted that the election was going to be rigged, and they organized demonstrations in hopes that the election would be postponed.

Key issues in the election included Azerbaijan's economy, and the ongoing struggle with neighboring Armenia. Azerbaijan has access to vast quantities of oil, but has yet to take full economic advantage. Instead, much of the nation's resources have been aimed at trying to recover the the mountain enclave of Nagornyy-Karabakh, which was taken over by Armenia in 1994.
 
 

Election results:
-Heydar Alireza Oglu Aliyev (incumbent), New Azerbaijan Party. 76.11%
-Etibar Salidar Oglu Mammadov, National Independence Party. 11.60%
-Nizami Mammad Oglu Suleymanov, Independent Azerbaijan Party. 8.06%
-Firudin Sharif Oglu Hasanov, Communist Party. 0.87%
-Ashraf Farzali Oglu Mehdiyev, Association of Victims of Political Repressions. 0.86%
-Khanhuseyn Huseynaga Oglu Kazymly, Social Prosperity Party. 0.25%
 
 

There five primary opposition leaders, who would have otherwise been presidential candidates, who were boycotting the election. They were:

-Abulfaz Elchibey, Chairman of the People's Front of Azerbaijan Party (PFAP).
Elchibey was elected president in independent Azerbaijan's first contested elections in June 1992. He exiled himself soon afterwards, though, when Baku was attacked during territorial disputes with Armenia.

-Isa Gambar, Chairman of the Musavat (Equality) Party.
Gambar was parliament speaker in 1992-1993, briefly serving as president before Elchibey's election in 1992.

-Rasul Guliyev
Guliyev resigned as parliament speaker in September 1996 and subsequently
left the country, after New Azerbaijan Party members accused him of misappropriation of funds.

-Lala Shovkat Hajiyeva, Chairwoman of the Azerbaijani Liberal Party.
Shovkat was secretary of state to President Aliyev in 1993. She resigned in
response to illegal oil sales to Armenia and increasing bread prices.

-Ilyas Ismayilov, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan.
Ismayilov was justice minister from 1992 to 1995.
 
 
 

Azeri Election Guidelines

The president is elected for five years. In the election's first round, a candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the votes cast to be elected. Otherwise, a second round will be held with the two highest vote-getters. For an election to be valid, voter
turnout must be at least 25% of the nation's 4.1 million registered voters. The Central Electoral Commission must submit the results to the Constitutional Court within five days of the voting.

The previous election, held in October 1993, was won by Haydar Aliyev with 98.6 percent of the vote.


President Heydar Aliyev
 
 

TIMELINE

June 1993 Aliev, then Parliament Chairman, assumes the position of president when President Elchibey is forced to flee the capital.
October 1993 Aliev is elected president of Azerbaijan, receiving 98.6% (or 98.8% or 92.8%) of the vote.
November 12, 1995 Azerbaijan holds its first parliamentary elections, riddled with allegations of fraud. A new constitution is also adopted, which is said to increase President Aliyev's powers.
June 1998 A law regarding formation of the Central Electoral Commission is passed. It states that the president will appoint 12 non-partisan members to the 24-seat commission, and the parliament will appoint the other 12. 
July 1998 Five opposition leaders issue a list of demands that must be met before they will participate in the upcoming presidential election.
August 8, 1998 A political imbalance in the Central Elections Commission stems from an ambundance of Aliev supporters in parliament. After being denied an equal share of seats on the commission, opposition parties express their intent to boycott October's presidential elections.
August 1998 The Movement for Democratic Elections and Electoral Reform (MDEER) begins demonstrating, demanding that the Central Elections Commission be composed more fairly.
September 1, 1998 Election campaigning formally begins. 
September 12, 1998 MDEER tries to hold a rally at Baku's Freedom Square. Police stop people from entering the square, and violence ensues.
October 10, 1998 Police again stop opposition protesters from rallying in Baku; again, the situation becomes violent.
October 11, 1998 Aliev is re-elected as President of Azerbaijan.
May 19, 1999 Turkey presents Aliev with its Ataturk peace award. 

 
 

NAMES & ORGANIZATIONS

1998 Presidential candidates for the Azeri/Azerbaijani elections:
-President Haydar Alireza Oglu Aliev, New Azerbaijan Party. Also "Haydar / Heydar / Geidar     Aliev / Aliyev"
-Etibar Salidar Oglu Mammadov, National Independence Party. Also "Etibar Mamedov"
-Nizami Mammad Oglu Suleymanov, Independent Azerbaijan Party.
-Firudin Sharif Oglu Hasanov, Communist Party. Also "Firudin Hassanov"
-Ashraf Farzali Oglu Mehdiyev, Association of Victims of Political Repressions. Also "Ashraf Mehtiev," "Ashraf Mekhtiyev"
-Khanhuseyn Huseynaga Oglu Kazymly, Social Prosperity Party. Also "Khangusein Kyazimli"
 

Opposition leaders:
-Abulfaz Elchibey, People's Front of Azerbaijan Party (PFAP)
-Isa Gambar, Musavat (Equality) Party
-Rasul Guliyev
-Lala Shovkat Hajiyeva, Azerbaijani Liberal Party
-Ilyas Ismayilov, Democratic Party of Azerbaijan
 

Milli Majlis, the Azerbaijani parliament

Azeri Prime Minister Artur Rasizade

Movement for Democratic Elections and Electoral Reform (MDEER), an umbrella organization representing Azerbaijan's opposition parties