Azerbaijani presidential election, 2008

The presidential election in Azerbaijan in 2008 took place on October 15. The elections were boycotted by the main opposition parties, so that a victory by Ilham Heydər oglu Əliyev, the candidate of the New Azerbaijan Party was already in advance to be safe.

4.8 million people were eligible to vote.

Election campaign and boycott

At the election, seven candidates presented on. The main opposition parties, including the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Democratic Party, presented no candidates and called for a boycott of the election. This was justified by the fact that the opposition is hampered in the election campaign and the election was such a farce that only serves to legitimize the president. The Azerbaijan Communist Party, however, supported the incumbent president Ilham Aliyev.

According to the organization Reporters Without Borders the president would get more than 44 percent of the measured time on television, his competitors a maximum of 1.5 percent. In addition, social and political problems have not been treated in the media.

Electoral process and criticism

The election took place on Wednesday 15 October 2008, which was declared a day off. The election has been observed from 1200 election observers from Europe, CIS and the U.S., including 430 of the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.

The opposition party Müsawat complained that voters were forced to vote. Some companies employees to have been forced to vote in their operation, so that the employer can control the vote.

According to observers of the CIS, the choice was clear and calm. Boris Frlec, Head of the OSCE election observers, the transparency confirmed on election day, but criticized the lack of political competition in advance. In the election itself, there were technically ... this time a big problem.

Election result

According to preliminary data of the Electoral Commission İlham Heydər oglu Əliyev received 89.0 % of votes. The turnout lies at 77 %. This ultimately did not change the structure in the policy of Azerbaijan.