President of Azerbaijan

President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan

Standard of the President
Incumbent
Ilham Aliyev
since 31 October 2003
Residence Baku, Azerbaijan
Term length Five years, renewable optional
Inaugural holder Ayaz Mutalibov
Formation 30 August 1991
Website The President of Azerbaijan
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Azerbaijan
See also
  • Politics of Nagorno Karabakh

Politics portal

The country of Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government. The current President of Azerbaijan is Ilham Aliyev.

The Constitution states that the president will be the embodiment of executive power, commander-in-chief, "representative of Azerbaijan in home and foreign policies", and that he "shall have the right of immunity [from prosecution]." The president rules through his office at Presidential Apparatus, consisting of a group of secretaries and departmental ministers. Additionally, there is a Cabinet of Ministers (regarding economic and social policy) and a Security Council (regarding foreign, military, and judicial matters).

Chief military advisors to the President of Azerbaijan have included: Turkish Air Force Brig. Gen. Yasar Demirbulak (1992–1994), Maj. Gen. Nuraddin Sadykhov (1993–1999), Col. Gen. Tofig Aghahuseynov (1997–2002) and National Security Lt. Gen. Vahid Aliyev (since April 2002).

Among the agencies directly subordinate to the President is the Special State Protection Service.

Selection process

Eligibility

A candidate for office must be a citizen of Azerbaijan at least 35 years old, and 'permanently resided' in Azerbaijan for at least 5 years.[1]

Election

The election of the President is mainly regulated by the Presidential Election Law (PEL) and the Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights (BGL).[2]

Each faction in the National Assembly has the right to nominate a candidate for the presidential elections. The minimum number of signatures for a presidential candidate fielded by a political party with no parliamentary representation is 40,000, before amendments to the law.[3]

Insignia

After the oath of office has been taken by the elected president, these following insignia are handed over to the president. These devices are used to display the rank of his office and are used on special occasions.

Standard (flag)

The standard is a square version of the Azerbaijani flag, charged in the center with the Azerbaijani coat of arms. Golden fringe is added to the standard. Copies of the standard are used inside his office, other state agencies, and while the president is traveling in a vehicle inside Azerbaijan. A 2:3 ratio version of the flag is used when the President is at sea. This is the most used symbol to denote the presence of the Azerbaijan President.

Powers and duties

Guarantor of the Constitution

As the guarantor of the Constitution and the entire system of constitutional law, the President ensures that the constitutions, laws and regulations of the constituent territories of the Azerbaijan be in full compliance with the country’s Constitution and federal laws.

Foreign policy

The President is invested with extensive rights to implement the state's foreign policy. The President determines Azerbaijan's position in international affairs and represents the state in international relations, conducts negotiations and signs ratification documents.

Residences

The primary working President's residence is the The Presidential building (also known as Presidential apparatus) on Istiglaliyyat Street in Baku.[4][5][6]

The current (since 2008) home President's residence is Zagulba (Azerbaijani: Zaqulba).[7]

Also, the President has several vacation residences outside of Baku.

Transport

Cars belonged to Heydar Aliyev in Heydar Aliyev Center

National transport services for the Azerbaijan President are provided by the Special Purpose Garage (SPG).[8] The SPG is a unit within the Special State Protection Service.[9]

The presidential aircraft uses the same colour scheme as standard AZAL aircraft, except for the use of the Azerbaijan coat of arms or the Presidential Standard on the empennage instead of the flag of Azerbaijan.

Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1991–present)

For leaders before independence, see List of leaders of Azerbaijan
№ President Term of office Political Party Government Elected Ref
Portrait Name Took Office Left Office Days
1 Ayaz Mutallibov
Ayaz Mütəllibov
(1938–)		 30 August 1991 6 March 1992 189 None 1. Mütəllibov II 1991
Nagorno-Karabakh War; Khojaly Massacre; Capture of Shusha; 1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown. Forced to submit his resignation after pressure from Azerbaijan Popular Front.
— Yagub Mammadov (Acting)
Yaqub Məmmədov
(1941–)		 6 March 1992 14 May 1992 69 None — — [10]
Ousted by the armed revolt led by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
— Ayaz Mutallibov
Ayaz Mütəllibov
(1938–)		 14 May 1992 18 May 1992 4 None Mütəllibov II —
Deposed from his duty after takeover by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
— Isa Gambar (Acting)
İsa Qəmbər
(1957–)		 19 May 1992 16 June 1992 28 Azerbaijani Popular Front Party
— — [11]
Took temporary duties of president until the national elections in 1992.
2 Abulfaz Elchibey
Əbülfəz Elçibəy
(1938–2000)		 16 June 1992 1 September 1993 442 Azerbaijani Popular Front Party
2. Elçibəy I 1992 [12]
Among the Soviet republics the Russian army was first withdrawn from Azerbaijan; The national currency of Azerbaijan was put into circulation; State Treasure Foundation was established; Entrance examinations to he high and vocational educational was held with test method for the first time; The foundation of private institutions in the education field was permitted; The passage to the Latin alphabet; Founded the SOCAR; Re-established Azerbaijani Armed Forces; Operation Goranboy.
3 Heydar Aliyev
Heydər Əliyev
(1923–2003)		 3 October 1993 31 October 2003 3680 New Azerbaijan Party
3. H.Əliyev II 1993 [13]
Founded the YAP; Heydar Aliyev's cult of personality; Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline; South Caucasus Pipeline; 1994 Baku Metro bombings. Survived coup attempt in 1995.
4 Ilham Aliyev
İlham Əliyev
(1961–)		 31 October 2003 Present 4190 New Azerbaijan Party
6. İ.Əliyev I 2003 [14]
Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member to United Nations Security Council; foiled 2007 Baku terrorist plot; Azerbaijan State Oil Academy shooting; 2010 Mardakert skirmishes; 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes; Forced evictions in Baku; 2011 Azerbaijani protests; Eurovision Song Contest 2012; 2013 Baku protests; 2015 European Games. He was criticised for restricting the freedom of media and accused of violating human rights; 2014 Nagorno-Karabakh Mil Mi-24 shootdown

Last election

Candidate Party Votes %
Ilham AliyevNew Azerbaijan Party3,126,11384.54
Jamil HasanliNational Council of Democratic Forces204,6425.53
Igbal AghazadeParty of Hope88,7232.40
Gudrat HasanguliyevWhole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party73,7021.99
Zahid OrujIndependent53,8391.45
Ilyas IsmayılovJustice Party39,7221.07
Araz AlizadeSocial Democratic Party32,0690.87
Faraj GuliyevNational Revival Movement Party31,9260.86
Hafiz HajiyevModern Equality Party24,4610.66
Sardar MammadovAzerbaijan Democratic Party22,7730.62
Invalid/blank votes36,622–
Total3,734,592100
Registered voters/turnout5,214,78771.62
Source: CEC

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASINDA DÖVLƏT HAKİMİYYƏTİ HAQQINDA ÜMUMİ MƏLUMAT". www.taxes.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  2. ↑ thato, phengo; begang, Rita James (2009). Voting and Elections the World Over. Global Perspectives on Social Issues Series. Lexington Books. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-7391-3090-2.
  3. ↑ "Ten Candidates Registered For Azerbaijani Presidential Election". www.rferl.org. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Kompass catalog
  5. ↑ ПРЕЗИДЕНТСКИЙ АППАРАТ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНСКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ
  6. ↑ Baku Information
  7. ↑ ВИЗИТ НЕ ВЕЖЛИВОСТИ. gazeta-nv.info (in Russian). Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Republic of Azerbaijan - Special State Protection Service
  9. ↑ Heydar Aliyev's Heritage International Online Library: Speech by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, the High Chief in a ceremony marking the 5th anniversary of the founding of the National Guard - National Guard headquarters in Azerbaijan, 25 December 1996 (Russian)
  10. ↑ "Yaqub Məmmədov nurçuları Azərbaycana gətirənin adını açıqladı - MÜSAHİBƏ". publika.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "İsa Qəmbər on adam.az". adam.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  12. ↑ (French) "Les liaisons dangereuses de la police turque", Le Monde diplomatique, March 1997
  13. ↑ Lewis, Paul. "H.A. Aliyev, K.G.B. Officer And Azeri Leader, 80, Dies". www.nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev claims election victory". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

External links