Waiting Game

It is hard to tell what the Azeri people are going to do concerning the election that took place over one month ago. It seems as though they have just given up on trying to receive a permit to rally. With Aliyev growing in power and creating more restrictions on the media, the Azeri people need to step up to the plate and demand for change. With the next presidential election in 5 years, I do not think the Azeri people can wait that long to remove Aliyev from power, especially since his party is trying to remove the term limit. With Aliyev’s last term, if them term limit is removed, and then Azerbaijan is in some serious trouble that could result in an authorities system. It is important to keep an eye on that in the election in 5 years. Azerbaijan has some serious problems to fix before the next election or the people might create their own Rose Revolution.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/election/azerbaijan/aew102700b.shtml

Azerbaijan's Future

Looking at Azerbaijan’s past elections, the oppositions have expressed their grievances to the courts of appeal and there are talks on how to effectively change the constitution in order to facilitate free and fair elections in future. In recent talks in Helinski, there were recommendations for the OSCE to contribute post-election conflict because they were a crucial part of the international processes.

Some of the recommendations by International observers to develop a democratic atmosphere in Azerbaijan were; separate state affairs from religion, high quality, free and independent media to promote dialogue with civic society and finally to maintain international democratic standards and comply with OSCE and Council of Europe resolutions and commitments.

Even though the courts of appeal rejected the opposition’s appeals, it would be interesting to observe whether the intensity of talks with the international community will be influential in Azerbaijan’s future elections.

 Sources:

http://avciya.az/eng/uploads/posts/kitablar/elect_2008_in_docs_eng.pdf

http://news.trendaz.com/index.shtml?show=cat&catid=143&subcatid=106&lang=EN&page=1

http://www.azerbaijan.az/_News/_news_e.html?lang=en