President of Azerbaijan

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Standard of the President
Incumbent Ilham Aliyev since 31 October 2003
Residence	Baku, Azerbaijan
Term length	Five years, renewable optional
Inaugural holder	Ayaz Mutalibov
Formation	30 August 1991
Website	The President of Azerbaijan

The country of Azerbaijan is a semi-presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government. The current President of Azerbaijan is Ilham Aliyev.

The Constitution states that the president will be the embodiment of executive power, commander-in-chief, "representative of Azerbaijan in home and foreign policies", and that he "shall have the right of immunity [from prosecution]." The president rules through his office at Presidential Apparatus, 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).

Chief military advisors to the President of Azerbaijan have included: Turkish Air Force Brig. Gen. Yasar Demirbulak (1992–1994), Maj. Gen. Nuraddin Sadykhov (1993–1999), Col. Gen. Tofig Aghahuseynov (1997–2002) and National Security Lt. Gen. Vahid Aliyev (since April 2002).

Among the agencies directly subordinate to the President is the Special State Protection Service.

Selection process

Eligibility

A candidate for office must be a citizen of Azerbaijan at least 35 years old, and 'permanently resided' in Azerbaijan for at least 5 years.

Election

The election of the President is mainly regulated by the Presidential Election Law (PEL) and the Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights (BGL).

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.

Insignia

After the oath of office has been taken by the elected president, these following insignia are handed over to the president. These devices are used to display the rank of his office and are used on special occasions.

Standard (flag)

The standard is a square version of the Azerbaijani flag, charged in the center with the Azerbaijani coat of arms. Golden fringe is added to the standard. Copies of the standard are used inside his office, other state agencies, and while the president is traveling in a vehicle inside Azerbaijan. A 2:3 ratio version of the flag is used when the President is at sea. This is the most used symbol to denote the presence of the Azerbaijan President.

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.

Residences

The primary working President's residence is the The Presidential building (also known as Presidential apparatus) on Istiglaliyyat Street in Baku.

The current (since 2008) home President's residence is Zagulba (Azerbaijani: Zaqulba).

Also, the President has several vacation residences outside of Baku.

• Novkhani (Azerbaijani: Novxanı), Novkhani, Absheron Rayon
• Khoshbulaq (Azerbaijani: Xoşbulaq), Daşkəsən, Dashkasan District

Transport

Cars belonged to Heydar Aliyev in Heydar Aliyev Center

National transport services for the Azerbaijan President are provided by the Special Purpose Garage (SPG). The SPG is a unit within the Special State Protection Service.

• Limousines
  • Maybach 62
  • Mercedes-Benz W221
• Honorary escort (motorcycles)
  • BMW
• Airplanes for long-distance travel

• Boeing 767-300ER 4K-AI01 "Baku-1" Main aircraft

• Airbus A319-100 4K-AI02 "Baku-2"

• Gulfstream G550 4K-AI06

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.

Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1991–present)

For leaders before independence, see List of leaders of Azerbaijan

№	President (Born–Died)		Term of office			Political Party	Government	Elected	Ref
	Portrait	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Days
1		Ayaz Mutallibov Ayaz Mütəllibov (1938–)	30 August 1991	6 March 1992		None	1. Mütəllibov II	1991
			Nagorno-Karabakh War; Khojaly Massacre; Capture of Shusha; 1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown. Forced to submit his resignation after pressure from Azerbaijan Popular Front.
—		Yagub Mammadov (acting) Yaqub Məmmədov (1941–)	6 March 1992	14 May 1992		None	—	—
			Ousted by the armed revolt led by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
—		Ayaz Mutallibov Ayaz Mütəllibov (1938–)	14 May 1992	18 May 1992		None	Mütəllibov II	—
			Deposed from his duty after takeover by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
—		Isa Gambar (acting) İsa Qəmbər (1957–)	19 May 1992	16 June 1992		Azerbaijani Popular Front Party	—	—
			Took temporary duties of president until the national elections in 1992.
2		Abulfaz Elchibey Əbülfəz Elçibəy (1938–2000)	16 June 1992	1 September 1993		Azerbaijani Popular Front Party	2. Elçibəy I	1992
			Among the Soviet republics the Russian army was first withdrawn from Azerbaijan; The national currency of Azerbaijan was put into circulation; State Treasure Foundation was established; Entrance examinations to he high and vocational educational was held with test method for the first time; The foundation of private institutions in the education field was permitted; The passage to the Latin alphabet; Founded the SOCAR; Re-established Azerbaijani Armed Forces; Operation Goranboy.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"| 3	80px	Heydar Aliyev Heydər Əliyev (1923–2003)	3 October 1993	31 October 2003		style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"|New Azerbaijan Party	3. H.Əliyev II	1993
Founded the YAP; Heydar Aliyev's cult of personality; Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline; South Caucasus Pipeline; 1994 Baku Metro bombings. Survived coup attempt in 1995.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"| 4		Ilham Aliyev İlham Əliyev (1961–)	31 October 2003	Incumbent		style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"|New Azerbaijan Party	6. İ.Əliyev I	2003
Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member to United Nations Security Council; foiled 2007 Baku terrorist plot; Azerbaijan State Oil Academy shooting; 2010 Mardakert skirmishes; 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes; Forced evictions in Baku; 2011 Azerbaijani protests; Eurovision Song Contest 2012; 2013 Baku protests; He was criticised for restricting the freedom of media and accused of violating human rights; 2014 Nagorno-Karabakh Mil Mi-24 shootdown; 2015 Baku residence building fire; 2015 European Games

Last election

Main article: Azerbaijani presidential election, 2013

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Ilham Aliyev	New Azerbaijan Party	3,126,113	84.54
Jamil Hasanli	National Council of Democratic Forces	204,642	5.53
Igbal Aghazade	Party of Hope	88,723	2.40
Gudrat Hasanguliyev	Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party	73,702	1.99
Zahid Oruj	Independent	53,839	1.45
Ilyas Ismayılov	Justice Party	39,722	1.07
Araz Alizade	Social Democratic Party	32,069	0.87
Faraj Guliyev	National Revival Movement Party	31,926	0.86
Hafiz Hajiyev	Modern Equality Party	24,461	0.66
Sardar Mammadov	Azerbaijan Democratic Party	22,773	0.62
Invalid/blank votes		36,622	–
Total		3,734,592	100
Registered voters/turnout		5,214,787	71.62
Source: CEC

See also

• Prime Minister of Azerbaijan

External links

• The President of Azerbaijan
• The President of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani)
• The President of Azerbaijan (Russian)