Azerbaijan kicks off campaigning for upcoming snap parliamentary polls

Azerbaijan has officially commenced its election campaign for the upcoming snap parliamentary elections.

The campaign period, which began today, will continue until 08:00 on August 31, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

This marks the start of a critical phase in the electoral process, as candidates and political parties vie for seats in the Milli Majlis, the country’s national parliament.

Registered candidates, their authorized representatives, and proxies, along with political parties and blocs that have registered candidates, are permitted to conduct election campaigns. In support of these efforts, 3,259 open spaces and 1,854 closed spaces have been designated across the Republic of Azerbaijan for campaign activities.

The snap elections were set in motion following an order signed by President Ilham Aliyev on June 28, which dissolved the Milli Majlis of the sixth convocation. The elections are scheduled to take place on September 1, 2024. The previous parliament, which was dissolved as part of this process, represented the sixth legislature since Azerbaijan gained independence in 1991, with the first parliamentary elections being held in 1995.

In Azerbaijan, members of parliament are elected for five-year terms through a majority electoral system, which is based on universal, equal, and direct suffrage by citizens. Typically, parliamentary elections are held every five years on the first Sunday in November. However, a 2016 constitutional amendment allows for shortened terms for deputies elected in snap elections. Under this provision, subsequent parliamentary elections are scheduled for the first Sunday in November of the fifth year following the snap election.