The 15 October 2008 presidential election: The consolidation of Ilham Aliyev's power in Azerbaijan

Abstract

The presidential election held on October 15, 2008 marked a crucial phase in the consolidation of the semi-authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan. Azeri politics has long suffered from the authoritarian tendencies of the government. Due in part to the boycott of the major opposition parties, the incumbent president, Ilham Aliyev, emerged from the election even stronger. The election was uncompetitive and the result was expectable. However, high voter turnout indicates the weakness of opposition to mobilize the voters not to participate in the elections. The election outcome can be clearly seen as an approval of the policies of Ilham Aliyev, but it also represents the opposition’s inability to be a significant force in the Azeri political landscape. Yet, the president will face thorny problems in his second term still waiting to be resolved.

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