In Azerbaijan, the President is Elected for Life: Aliyev is Again a Presidential Candidate

In the early presidential elections scheduled for February 7, 2024, Ilham Aliyev will be the candidate of the ruling "Yeni Azerbaijan" party. This was announced by the Deputy President and head of the Central Office, Tahir Budagov. The information has been reported by Azerbaijani media.

Aliyev, who has been in power for 20 years, was last elected in April 2018 for a 7-year term. That election was also an extraordinary one. The regular elections were set for October 2025. Azerbaijani sources do not provide reasons for holding early elections.

Ilham Aliyev first became President of Azerbaijan in 2003 and has since changed the Constitution twice. He has removed the restriction on being elected president more than twice, meaning that, like in Central Asian countries, the president in Azerbaijan can be elected for life. In 2024, Aliyev may run again.