First Female Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament Elected

Sahiba Gafarova was elected as the first female speaker of the Azerbaijan Parliament at the first plenary meeting of the 6th convocation held on March 10. 

The chairman, vice-chairmen of the Parliament, as well as chairmen and vice-chairmen of parliamentary committees were elected at the meeting.

Gafarova's candidacy was proposed by the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) party. 116 out of 125 MPs voted supported the motion.

Born in 1955, Gafarova graduated from the Azerbaijani Pedagogical Institute of Russian Language and Literature named after M.F.Akhundov and Azerbaijan University of Languages (in English philology) with honors.

She is a specialist in the theory of literature, modern Russian and American literature, the author of more than 70 scientific and educational works, programs, and study guides. She is engaged in research on gender issues in philology.

Sahiba Gafarova is a Doctor of Philology and a Professor.

By Ana Dumbadze