Comments on: Azerbaijan: Apathy Amid Opposition Presidential Election Boycott http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/10/02/azerbaijan-apathy-amid-opposition-presidential-election-boycott/ News, Photography, Blogs & Analysis Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:28:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Onnik http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/10/02/azerbaijan-apathy-amid-opposition-presidential-election-boycott/#comment-9322 Onnik Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:56:30 +0000 http://blog.oneworld.am/?p=964#comment-9322 Ironic. Azerbaijan's presidential election might turn out to be the calmest yet in the South Caucasus, but not because it will be democratic -- simply because there is no opposing candidate. <blockquote>Azerbaijan's Underwhelming Election The only threat facing President Ilham Aliev is a possible low turnout on election-day. By Boyukaga Agayev in Baku (CRS 462 02-Oct-08) Azerbaijan is about to undergo a presidential election - but you would not know it judging by the level of interest of ordinary citizens, who seem to be paying more attention to the election in the United States than their own. Official news reports are saying that all the preparatory work has been done for polling day on October 15 and the polling stations are ready to receive voters. Seven candidates have been registered and a campaign is officially underway. Yet almost no one doubts which of the seven candidates will emerge the victor. The main opposition is boycotting the poll and to many Azerbaijanis serving president Ilham Aliev is the only recognisable name on the ballot. The other six candidates taking part are not household names. Some were formerly middle-ranking opposition politicians, among them Gulamhusein Alibeili, who left his position as one of the leaders of the Popular Front party to found a new party entitled Aidynlar (Intelligentsia). He may attract some discontented voters, but the wide expectation is that opponents of the current president will simply stay at home on October 15. Among them will be thirty-year-old Baku resident Elnur Rzayev. "I don't want to choose between the bad and the very bad," he said. "And what's more, everyone knows already what the result is going to be." [...] Mehman Aliev, director of the pro-opposition Turan news agency, went further, saying, "If all the other six presidential candidates support Ilham Aliev what elections are we talking about? You can see this for yourself in their speeches on public television. None of the candidates talks about real issues. They talk so cautiously as if they are afraid of offending someone. "I believe that the West is determined to give another five years of rule to the Alievs and to get the real reforms which have been talked about for some time.”</blockquote> http://www.iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=346973&apc_state=henh Ironic. Azerbaijan’s presidential election might turn out to be the calmest yet in the South Caucasus, but not because it will be democratic — simply because there is no opposing candidate.

Azerbaijan’s Underwhelming Election
The only threat facing President Ilham Aliev is a possible low turnout on election-day.

By Boyukaga Agayev in Baku (CRS 462 02-Oct-08)

Azerbaijan is about to undergo a presidential election - but you would not know it judging by the level of interest of ordinary citizens, who seem to be paying more attention to the election in the United States than their own.

Official news reports are saying that all the preparatory work has been done for polling day on October 15 and the polling stations are ready to receive voters. Seven candidates have been registered and a campaign is officially underway.

Yet almost no one doubts which of the seven candidates will emerge the victor. The main opposition is boycotting the poll and to many Azerbaijanis serving president Ilham Aliev is the only recognisable name on the ballot.
The other six candidates taking part are not household names. Some were formerly middle-ranking opposition politicians, among them Gulamhusein Alibeili, who left his position as one of the leaders of the Popular Front party to found a new party entitled Aidynlar (Intelligentsia). He may attract some discontented voters, but the wide expectation is that opponents of the current president will simply stay at home on October 15.

Among them will be thirty-year-old Baku resident Elnur Rzayev. “I don’t want to choose between the bad and the very bad,” he said. “And what’s more, everyone knows already what the result is going to be.”

[…]

Mehman Aliev, director of the pro-opposition Turan news agency, went further, saying, “If all the other six presidential candidates support Ilham Aliev what elections are we talking about? You can see this for yourself in their speeches on public television. None of the candidates talks about real issues. They talk so cautiously as if they are afraid of offending someone.

“I believe that the West is determined to give another five years of rule to the Alievs and to get the real reforms which have been talked about for some time.”

http://www.iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=346973&apc_state=henh

]]>