2010 Azerbaijani parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Azerbaijan on 7 November 2010.[1][2]

2010 Azerbaijani parliamentary election

7 November 2010

125 seats in the National Assembly
63 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader % Seats ±
New Azerbaijan 46.48 71 +10
Civic Solidarity Party 1.95 3 0
Motherland Party 1.39 2 0
AXC 1.03 1 0
Party of Hope 0.90 1 0
ASRP 0.76 1 0
Great Order Party 0.73 1 0
Justice Party 0.53 1 0
Civic Unity Party 0.43 1 0
PDR 0.23 1 0
Affiliation not indicated 1.70 3
Independent 35.6 39 -4
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Speaker before Speaker after
Ogtay Asadov Ogtay Asadov

Candidates

The registration of candidates ended on 15 October.[3] Although 2,500 candidates filed application to run in the election, only 690 were given the go ahead by the electoral commission.[4]

Conduct

The elections were observed by monitors from the European Parliament, 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.[5] The pre-election atmosphere was tense with the media complaining of pressure and intransparent financial transactions of state officials.[6][7][8]

The observation mission of the PACE reported that "the whole election process showed progress in reaching Assembly and OSCE standards and commitments" but that "significant progress would still be necessary to reach an overall electoral and democratic consensus".[9]

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,[10] and in September regarding Flora Karimova's.[11]

Prior to the elections, the government amended visa regulations, making it more difficult for election observers and journalists to enter the country.[12]

Results

President Ilham Aliyev's ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party got a majority of 71 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.[13]

For the first time in Azerbaijani history, not a single candidate from the main opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front (AXCP) or Musavat parties was elected.[13] 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.[5]

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.[4]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
New Azerbaijan Party1,110,88546.4871+10
Musavat47,9422.010–5
Civic Solidarity Party46,5121.9530
Motherland Party33,2751.3920
Classic Popular Front Party31,3171.310
Azerbaijani Popular Front Party28,7191.200–1
Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party24,4991.0310
Azerbaijan National Independence Party23,1410.970
Party of Hope21,6050.9010
Azerbaijan Social Prosperity Party18,0730.7610
Great Order Party17,3890.7310
Justice Party12,7610.5310
Citizen and Development Party11,1700.470
Democratic Azerbaijan World Party11,1100.460
Civic Unity Party10,1690.4310
Azerbaijan Democratic Party7,6620.3200
Azerbaijan Communist Party6,9420.290
Intellectuals Party5,6470.240
Party for Democratic Reforms5,5550.2310
Azerbaijani Social Democratic Party4,4020.180
Azerbaijan People's Party3,6700.150
Azerbaijan Progress Party3,6420.150
Modern Equality Party3,3490.140
Azerbaijan Liberal Party2,2240.090
Unity Party2,1860.090
Azerbaijan National Democrat Party1,2090.050
Freedom Party1,0880.050
Azerbaijan Free Republicans Party8200.030
Great Azerbaijan Party7500.030
Azerbaijan Evolution Party3060.010
Azerbaijan National Statehood Party1040.000
National Salvation Party940.000
Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party550.000
Independents850,87035.6039–4
Affiliation not indicated40,6881.7030
Total2,389,830100.001250
Registered voters/turnout4,922,600
Source: Election Passport

Reactions

Western observers[5] and the opposition alleged irregularities.[14] The elections were observed by monitors from the European Parliament, 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.[5]

References

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