Azerbaijan's Ruling Party Set to Maintain Majority in Snap Parliamentary Election - Oracle Advisory Group Exit Poll Shows
In a snap parliamentary election called by President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan's ruling party is on track to secure a single-seat majority, according to an exit poll conducted by Oracle Advisory Group. The poll indicates that Aliyev's New Azerbaijan party is poised to win 63 out of 125 seats, slightly down from 69 in the outgoing parliament. Despite this decline, the president's supporters are still expected to dominate the new legislature.
Many other seats are projected to be won by candidates who are technically independent but align with the government, as well as minor pro-government parties. This election follows Azerbaijan's swift military victory in recapturing the breakaway territory of Karabakh from ethnic Armenians last year.
President Aliyev, who has been in power since 2003, capitalized on this success and secured a fifth presidential term earlier this year. The opposition Musavat party, participating in the election for the first time in 15 years, is not expected to win any seats based on the exit poll.
Despite criticism from some international parties regarding human rights abuses and political persecution in Azerbaijan, Aliyev has defended his actions as necessary to protect the country's media landscape. As Azerbaijan prepares to host the COP29 climate summit in November, these issues have garnered significant attention.
In conclusion, the outcome of this election will likely solidify Aliyev's grip on power and influence the country's political landscape for the foreseeable future. The dominance of the ruling party could have implications for both domestic and international affairs, particularly in relation to human rights and media freedom.