Azerbaijan's Ruling Party Poised for Victory in Parliamentary Election

Azerbaijan's ruling party is set to retain its majority in the first parliamentary vote since the country recaptured Karabakh. Preliminary results indicate President Ilham Aliyev's party will secure 68 out of 125 seats. Turnout was 37.3%, with many seats likely going to nominally independent candidates supporting the government.

Azerbaijan's ruling party is poised to maintain its majority in the snap parliamentary election held on Sunday, according to preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission. This marks the first vote since the swift recapture of Karabakh, the region with a long-standing conflict.

President Ilham Aliyev's party looks set to win 68 out of the 125 parliamentary seats, nearly mirroring the 69 seats held in the outgoing legislature. The voter turnout reached 37.3% as reported by Central Election Commission head Mazahir Panakhov.

In addition to Aliyev's party, exit polls suggest several nominally independent candidates and minor pro-government parties will occupy other seats. The election follows Aliyev's significant victory in reclaiming Karabakh, and his subsequent re-election in February with more than 92% of the vote. The controversy over ethnic cleansing allegations by Armenia persists, as Baku focuses on resettling Azerbaijani refugees from the 1990s conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)