President of Azerbaijan

The president of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state of Azerbaijan.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Prezidenti
Standard of the President
Incumbent Ilham Aliyev since 31 October 2003
Type	head of state
Residence	Zuğulba Residence in Baku Presidential Palace in Ganjlik
Term length	Seven years, unlimited number of terms[1]
Formation	30 August 1991 (de facto) 27 November 1995 (de jure)
First holder	Ayaz Mutalibov
Deputy	Vice President of Azerbaijan
Salary	180,000 AZN annually[2]
Website	The President of Azerbaijan

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 executive office, the Presidential Administration, 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 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.

According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the same person can be on the post of President an unlimited number of terms.

Ilham Aliyev, son of the former president, Heydar Aliyev, elected as 4th and current president on 31 October 2003 after his father's resignation due to his deterioation health.

Selection process

Eligibility

Candidates for the position must be Azerbaijani citizens without age restrictions and have lived in Azerbaijan for at least 10 years.[3]

Election

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.[4]

Term of office

Prior to 2009, the term of office was five years, with a maximum of two terms. A referendum in 2009 removed the limit on the number of terms, and in 2016, another referendum increased the term to seven years. According to the Azerbaijani administration, a longer term would provide for more continuity in decision-making. The Venice Commission, of which Azerbaijan is a member, warned that this and other provisions of the referendum gave "unprecedented" authority to the president, and could severely upset the balance of power.[1]

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.[5] 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 presidential building (also known as the presidential apparatus) on Istiglaliyyat Street in Baku.[6][7][8]

The current (since 2008) home president's residence is Zagulba (Azerbaijani: Zaqulba).[9]

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

• Novkhani (Azerbaijani: Novxanı), Novkhani, Absheron Rayon
• Khoshbulaq (Azerbaijani: Xoşbulaq), Daşkəsən, Dashkasan District

Transport

Cars belonged to Heydar Aliyev in Heydar Aliyev Center (GAZ-13, ZIL-41047, 1991 W140-600, 1994 W140-limo)

National transport services for the Azerbaijan president are provided by the Special Purpose Garage,[10] which is a unit within the Special State Protection Service.[11]

• Limousines
  • Maybach 62
  • Mercedes-Benz W221
• Honorary escort (motorcycles)
  • BMW
• Airplanes for long-distance travel
• Boeing 767-300ER 4K-AI01 "Baku-1" Main aircraft
• Airbus A319-100 4K-AI02 "Baku-2"
• Gulfstream G550 4K-AI06

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

No.	President (birth–death)		Term of office			Political party	Government	Elected	Ref
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Days
1		Ayaz Mutallibov Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov (born 1938)	30 August 1991	6 March 1992	189	None	1. Mütəllibov II	1991
			First 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) Azerbaijani: Yaqub Məmmədov (born 1941)	6 March 1992	14 May 1992	69	None	—	—	[12]
			Ousted by the armed revolt led by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
(1)		Ayaz Mutallibov Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov (born 1938)	14 May 1992	18 May 1992	4	None	Mütəllibov II	—
			Deposed from his duty after takeover by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
-		Isa Gambar (acting) Azerbaijani: İsa Qəmbər (born 1957)	19 May 1992	16 June 1992	28	Azerbaijani Popular Front Party	—	—	[13]
			Took temporary duties of president until the national elections in 1992.
2		Abulfaz Elchibey Azerbaijani: Əbülfəz Elçibəy (1938–2000)	16 June 1992	1 September 1993	442	Azerbaijani Popular Front Party	2. Elçibəy I	1992	[14]
			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 the 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 Azerbaijani: Heydər Əliyev (1923–2003)	3 October 1993	31 October 2003	3680	New Azerbaijan Party	3. H.Əliyev II	1993 1998	[15]
			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 Azerbaijani: İlham Əliyev (born 1961)	31 October 2003	Incumbent	6304	New Azerbaijan Party	6. İ.Əliyev I	2003 2008 2013 2018	[16]
			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; 2011 Azerbaijani protests; Eurovision Song Contest 2012; 2013 Baku protests; 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes; 2014 Nagorno-Karabakh Mil Mi-24 shootdown; 2015 European Games; 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes; Baku City Circuit; 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games; 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes; 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Last election

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Ilham Aliyev	New Azerbaijan Party	3,394,898	86.02
Zahid Oruj	Independent	122,956	3.12
Sardar Mammadov	Azerbaijan Democratic Party	119,621	3.03
Gudrat Hasanguliyev	Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party	119,311	3.02
Hafiz Hajiyev	Modern Equality Party	59,924	1.52
Araz Alizadeh	Social Democratic Party	54,533	1.38
Faraj Guliyev	National Revival Movement Party	45,967	1.17
Razi Nurullayev	Independent	29,229	0.74
Invalid/blank votes		12,413	–
Total		3,958,852	100
Registered voters/turnout		5,332,817	74.24
Source: CEC

See also

• Vice President of Azerbaijan
• Prime Minister of Azerbaijan

References

1. "Azerbaijan holds referendum to extend president's term". Reuters. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2019 – via www.reuters.com.
2. "5 Highest Paid Asian Political Leaders". Archived from the original on 26 July 2018.
3. "AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASINDA DÖVLƏT HAKİMİYYƏTİ HAQQINDA ÜMUMİ MƏLUMAT". www.taxes.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
4. "Ten Candidates Registered For Azerbaijani Presidential Election". www.rferl.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
5. "Standard of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan" (PDF). Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Presidential Library. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
6. "Kompass catalog". Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
7. "ПРЕЗИДЕНТСКИЙ АППАРАТ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНСКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ". Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
8. Baku Information Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
9. ВИЗИТ НЕ ВЕЖЛИВОСТИ. gazeta-nv.info (in Russian). Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
10. Republic of Azerbaijan - Special State Protection Service Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
11. 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 Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
12. "Yaqub Məmmədov nurçuları Azərbaycana gətirənin adını açıqladı - MÜSAHİBƏ". publika.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
13. "İsa Qəmbər on adam.az". adam.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
14. (in French) "Les liaisons dangereuses de la police turque" Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Le Monde diplomatique, March 1997
15. Lewis, Paul. "H.A. Aliyev, K.G.B. Officer And Azeri Leader, 80, Dies". www.nytimes.com. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
16. "Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev claims election victory". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

External links

• The President of Azerbaijan
• The President of Azerbaijan (in Azerbaijani)
• The President of Azerbaijan (in Russian)