Azerbaijan's Ruling Party Retains Dominance Amidst Political Apathy

President Ilham Aliyev's New Azerbaijan party has maintained its parliamentary dominance, securing 68 out of 125 seats. The election was marked by low voter turnout and a lack of genuine alternatives, according to international observers. This vote follows Azerbaijan's recent military actions in the Karabakh region.

President Ilham Aliyev's New Azerbaijan party solidified its dominance in the latest parliamentary elections, preliminarily securing 68 out of 125 seats, officials announced on Monday.

An international observer mission criticized the election, stating it did not offer voters genuine political alternatives and took place in a restrictive environment that lacked political pluralism. 'These elections took place in a restrictive political and legal environment, the consequence of which was a lack of political pluralism coupled with the subdued and low-key campaign, all of which undermined the electoral process,' remarked Michael Creed, leader of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observer mission.

The National Elections Commission reported only 37% voter turnout. 'In these elections, the lack of genuine choice and engagement that led to pervasive political apathy among the population was quite evident,' commented Lucie Potuckova, head of the OSCE parliamentary assembly's delegation. The vote was the first nationwide parliamentary election since Azerbaijan regained complete control of the Karabakh region in a swift military operation in 2023. Aliyev and his father Heydar have ruled Azerbaijan since 1993, curbing opposition and limiting independent media.

(With inputs from agencies.)