AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008: HOW FAIR?

In October the Republic Azerbaijan with a total population of about 9 million persons will go to the boots across the country to elect their president for a period of five years. This will be the 6th presidential Election of the republic after it got its independence from Russia in 1992.

It’s less than two months to the fixed day of election, precisely on the 15th of October, yet not much events in the country to portray the upcoming election. It will be a great misjudgment to compare the Azerbaijan election with the USA election, but whereas the USA presidential election coming up in November has since become a top news for the media bodies, making headlines not just in USA but all across the globe, the Azerbaijan presidential election is passing on as quiet with little or no mention even in the National medias as if it is of no significance having one in the first place.

For many other foreigners who reside in Azerbaijan, not much is known concerning the election. For instance, asking the question to some foreigners residing in Azerbaijan: “apart from Ilham Aliyev, who else is contesting the presidential election in Azerbaijan?” The answers will not be far from the expected; of course they will have no Idea.

Ilham Aliyev is the incumbent president and is contesting for a second term in office. His party the “Yeni Azerbaijan Parti -YAP” had nominated him unanimously to be the party flag bearer. Ilham Aliyev, who was elected in 2003, took over as president of the Republic from his father Heydar Aliyev.

Initially, opposition parties had shown interest to participate in the coming presidential elections. Parties as the “Musavat” and “Azadliq -a bloc of parties” who are well known oppositions had candidates to field for the elections, but prior to the official commencement of the election activities, these oppositions withdrew form the election. The oppositions had stated among many reasons for the withdrawal as connected to unfavorable condition in the electoral system, non confidence in the Electoral conducting body.

Nonetheless, the ruling party YAP is structurally robust as compared to these other parties. From America to the United Kingdom, successes in election are pretty well determined on the availability of fund; the YAP party has got fund in essence. Although it is a wide assumption that state fund is channeled to the YAP party activities which obviously is an illegal act. Other assumptions by the opposition is that the government has help suppress the opposition therefore the consequence is that it has enabled the YAP to portray itself as having a great grassroots base.

Whatever the argument maybe, it is noteworthy to state that sampling opinions of the electorate, the common choice for presidency is Ilham Aliyev. Pressing these electorates further on why their choices are Ilham Aliyev, they simply say there is no opposition. Some although speak favorable concerning the achievements of the president Ilham Aliyev during his first ternure, while others see no positive achievements and simply expect a change.

Depending on what side the arguments come from, a truly free and fair election can only be possible in a battle where two persons of equal strength, equal opportunity and equally playing field contest. It is a no contest in a scenario where one party is by far stronger than the other party. In as much as the outcome of the election on 15th October is already onesided, it will definitely be seeking credibility just because of the single act that the opposition did not participate and that there was no real test on the ability of the YAP candidate Ilaham Aliyev to pull many votes.