President of Azerbaijan
The president of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Constitution states that the president is the embodiment of executive power, commander-in-chief, "representative of Azerbaijan in home and foreign policies", and "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.
President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan
Zuğulba Residence in Baku (primary)
Seven years,
unlimited number of terms[1]
18 May 1990[2]
Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan (1991–2002)
Prime Minister of Azerbaijan (2002–2017)
Vice President of Azerbaijan (2017–present)
180,000 AZN annually[3]
The primary workplace is the presidential building (also known as the presidential apparatus) on Istiglaliyyat Street in Baku.[4][5][6] Ilham Aliyev, son of the former president, Heydar, was elected the 4th and current president on 31 October 2003 after his father's resignation due to his deteriorating health and eventually died several months later.
Selection process and term
Eligibility
Candidates for the position must be Azerbaijani citizens without age restrictions and have lived in Azerbaijan for at least 10 years.[7] According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the same person can be on the post of President an unlimited number of terms.
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.[8]
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]
Inauguration
The official inauguration ceremony of the President is not publicly held, occurring with the participation of officials of the Azerbaijan state (representatives of political parties, public organizations, military personnel, religious figures), members of the government, deputies of the National Assembly, members of the president's family, as well as foreign representatives and other invited guests.
It is held within three days after the confirmation of the elected president by the Constitutional Court, during which the president takes the following oath:[9]
Then the person elected President of Azerbaijan puts his right hand on the Koran and takes the following oath:
Then the President-elect of Azerbaijan bows and kisses the Azerbaijani flag. The ceremony ends with a speech by the President-elect of Azerbaijan. The following is a list of presidential inaugurations:
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.
Military policy
The president serves as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. In this capacity, he has the power to declare a martial law.
Flag of the supreme commander-in-chief
Standard of the president
The main (since 2008) presidential residence is Zagulba (Azerbaijani: Zaqulba).[21] Also, the president has several part-time residences outside of Baku:
As well as several vacation residences:
National transport services for the Azerbaijan president are provided by the Special Purpose Garage,[22] which is a unit within the Special State Protection Service.[23]
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.