Azerbaijan Ruling Party Wins Parliamentary Vote

Azerbaijan's ruling party is leading in a ‘sudden’ parliamentary election called by President Ilham Aliyev. Political analysts christen this move to establish power and accelerate economic adjustments by swapping the old guard linked to his father.

Contenders from the governing Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) party won about 65 of 125 seats in the single-chamber legislature. The Central Election Commission (CEC) head, stated on Monday after calculating the results from about 110 electoral quarters.

A congregation of small irrelevant parties and independents faithful to the government apportioned all the rest seats.

Vice Prime Minister and Yeni Azerbaijan Executive Secretary Ali Ahmedov praised his party on "yet another great victory" after exit polls showed it on a way to win a majority of seats.

"We are grateful to those who have voted in support of our president's policies," Ahmedov told reporters.

The single-chamber parliament is chosen every five years through polling for individual candidates in separate electoral districts.

Aliyev, who has ruled Azerbaijan for 17 years, set the election in December, nine months prior before it was formally suitable.

By Beka Alexishvili