• General information
• Electoral system
• Last elections
• Election archive
• Presidency
• Oversight
• Specialized bodies
• Full text

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Oversight and Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Milli Mejlis / National Assembly More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1993 - LEADERSHIP President Ogtay S. Asadov (M)  Notes Elected on 2 Dec. 2005, re-elected on 29 Nov. 2010, on 24 Nov. 2015. Secretary General Safa Mirzayev (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 125 / 125 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 21 (16.80%) Mode of designation directly elected 125 Term 5 years Last renewal dates 1 November 2015 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Milli Mejlis Parliamentary Avenue, 1 BAKU AZ 1152 (Export mailing lists) Phone (994 12) 510 87 86 Fax (994 12) 493 49 43 E-mail Website http://www.meclis.gov.az/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Milli Mejlis / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 12 August 1995 Mode of designation directly elected 125 Constituencies - 125 single-member constituencies Voting system Majority: Single member plurality systems ("first past the post") By elections are held to fill vacancies between general elections unless there are less than 120 days remaining in the term of the Assembly. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Azerbaijani citizenship or persons living in Azerbaijan for at least five years. Disqualification: Persons recognized as ineligible to participate in elections by a court. CANDIDATES Eligibility - age: 18 years - Azerbaijani citizenship Ineligibility - Persons serving court-ordered sentences in places of detention or confinement; - Persons sentenced for serious crimes; - Azerbaijani citizens with dual citizenship (as long as they retain the dual citizenship); - Azerbaijani citizens currently having obligations to foreign countries. Incompatibilities - professional military personnel - judges - government officials - religious officials - other paid activity (except scientific, creative or teaching work) Candidacy requirements - Candidates must collect the signatures of 450 voters in their election districts (constituencies).

Parliament name (generic / translated) Milli Mejlis / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 1 November 2015 Timing and scope of renewal President Ilham Aliyev's New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azerbaijan) retained a clear majority in the 125-member National Assembly in the elections boycotted by the major opposition alliance, the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF, see note). Ten other parties - most of which are reportedly loyal to the President - took a total of 11 seats. Azadliq-2015 (Freedom 2015), a seven-party opposition coalition, and two opposition parties represented in the outgoing legislature - Umid (Hope) and Justice - failed to win parliamentary representation. The head of the Azadliq-2015 election campaign, Mr. Panah Huseyn, rejected the election results. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) did not observe the elections, citing government restrictions. Observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE ) stated that despite some shortcomings, the 2015 elections marked a step towards free, fair and democratic elections. Note: The NCDF was formed ahead of the 2013 presidential elections in which President Aliyev won a third term. It comprised the Musavat, People's Front, Open Society, the Forum of Intellectuals and the El (People) movement. The NCDF nominated Mr. Jamil Hasanli as its joint presidential candidate, pledging to achieve a peaceful transition to democracy. In September 2015, the NCDF announced that it would boycott the elections, stating that the country did not meet the conditions for free and fair elections. Date of previous elections: 7 November 2010 Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: November 2020 Number of seats at stake: 125 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 767 Percentage of women candidates: Not available. Number of parties contesting the election: 22 Number of parties winning seats: 11 Alternation of power: No Date of the first session of the new parliament: 24 November 2015 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Ogtay S. Asadov (New Azerbaijan Party, NAP) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 1 November 2015 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 5'198'658 2'897'188 (55.73%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes New Azerbaidjan Party Independents Civic Solidarity Party (VHP) Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Great Establishment Party Democratic Enlightenment Party Social Welfare party Party of National Statehood Democratic Reform Party Social Democrats Civil Union Party National Revival Movement Party Motherland party (Ana Vaten) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats New Azerbaidjan Party 72 Independents 41 Civic Solidarity Party (VHP) 2 Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party 1 Great Establishment Party 1 Democratic Enlightenment Party 1 Social Welfare party 1 Party of National Statehood 1 Democratic Reform Party 1 Social Democrats 1 Civil Union Party 1 National Revival Movement Party 1 Motherland party (Ana Vaten) 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 104 21 16.80% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Note on the repeat elections of June 2016 Following the 2015 elections, the Central Election Commission invalidated the election results for Aghdash Constituency No.90. Fresh elections were held on 18 June 2016. A male candidate from the New Aspiration Party (NAP) was elected and sworn in in July. The distribution of seats above includes the results of the fresh elections. As at 27 July 2016, there were 21 women out of the full 125 members. Sources: National Assembly (01.12.2015, 08.02.2016, 27.07.2016) http://www.msk.gov.az/en/ Azeri-Press Agency (APA: http://en.apa.az) https://www.infocenter.gov.az/content/?i=10&title=statistika BBC Monitoring

Parliament name (generic / translated) Milli Mejlis / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Chairman of the National Assembly Term - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Assembly Appointment - elected by the Members whose mandates have been validated - the election is held on the first working day of the new Assembly(if at least 83 of the 120 Members are elected) Eligibility - any Member may be a candidature but formal notification is required Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot a simple majority is required in the first round - if no candidate obtains a simple majority, a second round is held for the two candidates who obtained the most votes Procedures / results - the Chairperson of the Central Electoral Commission presides over the Assembly during the voting - the members of the Counting Commission supervise the voting - the Chairperson of the Counting Commission announces the results without delay - the results cannot be challenged STATUS Status - ranks second in the hierarchy of the State - acts as Head of State in case of the death, resignation or impeachment of the President - represents the Assembly in international bodies - in the absence of the Chairman, the First Deputy Chairman can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities - allowance - official residence - official car - secretariat - bodyguards FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - refers texts to a committee for study Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Assembly - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated - calls for a vote - checks the quorum - authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates Special powers - is responsible for establishing the budget - recruits, assigns and promotes key officials only - appoints the Secretary General - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion - takes part in voting - proposes bills or amendments - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure

This page was last updated on 7 August 2020
Copyright 1996-2016 Inter-Parliamentary Union

• Also on PARLINE
• Search
• Modules
• At a glance
• Recent elections
• New in PARLINE
• Toolbox
• Photo gallery
• About
• Newsfeeds