Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 1 /Trend/
Azerbaijani citizens do not see an alternative to Ilham Aliyev - something that even his opponents are forced to admit, believe the authors of "Azerbaijan: Systematic modernization and political choice" analytical report of the Center for Civil Society Studies of the Institute of Practical Politics.
"Azerbaijan enters a period of presidential election track. Unlike the previous presidential elections in 2003 and 2008, the current elections are the definition of "order of the day" of country's transformation. Azerbaijan completes the transition to new quality, where democratic reforms are irreversible, while the evolution of the political system is the most appropriate response to a totality of challenges faced by the country," the report said.
The report further said that in this regard, it is important to do "test" measurements of the condition of political environment in Azerbaijan, to determine the vectors of development of the situation.
"The uniqueness of Azerbaijan's economic and political modernization experience lies in the fact that, unlike its neighbours, the country was able to build a sustainable model, thanks to which in a relatively short time it was possible to make the state one of the leaders in industrial growth, income level and life quality," the report's authors believe.
Touching upon the topic of the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan, the authors write that despite the fact that Ilham Aliyev claims a third term of presidency, most of the experts do not record the traditional post-Soviet syndrome of "electoral weariness", and citizens of Azerbaijan do not see an alternative to Ilham Aliyev, something that even his opponents are forced to admit.
"The opposition is well aware that its weakness is in 'old' leaders and the absence of new faces among the party functionaries. Recruiting of new staff is weakened not only due to reducing role of the parties in Azerbaijan's current political system, but also due to the fact that the opposition parties continue to "share" the path of "gemmation" on the basis of their leaders' ambitions. Small parties of Azerbaijani opposition is a direct result of leaders' overestimation of their place in the political process," the center's report said.
The presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on October 9. The previous one was held on October 15, 2008.
Azerbaijan holds presidential elections every five years.