Azerbaijan parliamentary election, 2005
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Azerbaijan
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The 2005 Azerbaijan parliamentary election was held on November 6 of that year. It pitted candidates of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party against opposition led by the Azadlıq (Freedom) bloc of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, the Equality Party and the Democratic Party. The polling stations closed 15:00 UTC (19:00 local time). The result is contested, with allegations of vote-rigging from the opposition and outside groups.
The Central Election Commission reported, with 28% of votes counted, a 62% win for the NAP, 3% for the Equality Party, 1% for the APFP, 2% to independent candidates and 2% each to two other small parties. These results are contradicted by a Mitofsky International and Edison Media Research poll which found the NAP going from 75 to 56 seats in the 130-member assembly, with the Azadliq bloc getting 12 seats.
Human Rights Watch expressed concern about widespread intimidation of opposition supporters, saying that the elections could not be free or fair under such conditions.[1]
The opposition hopes for another color revolution, but analysts doubt if this will happen. Movements like Makkat and Yox! are not ready for revolution yet, according to Emin Huseynov, founder of the former.[2]
References
- "Azerbaijan begins key elections" (Nov. 6, 2005). BBC News.
- "Azerbaijan: Run-Up to Election Not Free or Fair". (Oct. 31, 2005). Human Rights Watch.
- "Azeri ruling party wins popular vote in parliament poll: official" (Nov. 7, 2005). Agence France Press.
- "Azeri opposition leaders arrested". (Nov. 5, 2005). BBC News.
- "Opposition rejects results". (Nov. 8, 2005). New Straits Times, p. 32.
- "Weder orange noch rosarot". (Nov. 6, 2005). Neue Zürcher Zeitung (German).