IHAM ALIYEV WINS ANOTHER TERM AS THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN. –WHAT’S NEXT?

Yesterday October the 15th, the Azerbaijan republic had a presidential election to elect who will become the next president for the next five years. Although the final results of the election has not been released (as at the time of posting) by the National Election Commission (NEC) but there is no need for an official release because obviously Ilham Aliyev won the election.

Observers of the Election, both Local and International agreed that the election atmosphere was calm and peaceful; in most standards the election can be scored as been free and fair. There was no violence experienced, there was availability of election materials in polling stations and turn out was quite impressive. All across the nation there was no report of disfranchised groups as local monitors says that all across the nation people were turning out to vote.

However some people will persist to ask the question: how fair can an election be that has already set the national legislations to support the incumbent? For instance; how can you expect a strong opposition when the opposition parties have been reaped of all their political strength? How can a challenge become possible with a legislative law that permits campaigning only a month prior to election? It is true that most voters had voted for Ilham Aliyev but again how could they have voted otherwise when in actual fact he is the only candidate they know?

Democracy entails more than providing the necessary amenities such as roads, electricity, and housings. It is true that that the government of Ilham Aliyev has done quite well in this area but again that has to be considered in the context that Azerbaijan has experienced tremendous wealth gain with its oil boom. This wealth has not been distributed across as more than a half percentage of the masses remains under the poverty line.

The government owes the masses good governance. It has to look into the national health system. Affordable good health should be a benefit for all not only for the affluence and relatives of the rich. The doctors and hospital administrators in the public hospitals deserve good wages accompanying with good hospital equipping. Furthermore, the media has to be granted freedom and there should be less government interference with the media activities. Government has to look into the unemployment statistics; there should be diversification of employment opportunities into other areas other than constructions and oil and gas.

The government has to also review the Educational system. Teachers and academicians deserve good pay; the youths are entitled to good education so as not to jeopardize the future of the nation. It is very glaring that presently there is a great drain in the intellectuals in the nation. It is true that government has to spend on the military, but it makes no sense diverting larger portion of the national income into arms purchase while neglecting very vital areas as good education, job creation, good health care, etc.

These are the challenge facing Ilahm Aliyev. If he is to consolidate his election victory, he has to begin to give the people of Azerbaijan good returns for democracy. Azerbaijanis wants more; they want more than peace and stability. This is what the government has to make a priority; to better the democratic system of the nation and allow for equal opportunity for all the masses so that the gains of the nation can become a collective gain.