A democratic electoral system was formed in Azerbaijan in the era of independence, at the historical stage of which presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections were held. The election of prominent statesman Heydar Aliyev as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 3 October 1993 was a true example of democratic elections in our country. At this election, the cohesion and unity of the people and the state brought victory to our country and became the basis for the creation of a new historical epoch.

However, after the rule of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev to take part in the elections as the President of the Republic and win was a difficult and responsible task. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has shown a real example of achieving this honour and fulfilling this responsible duty at a high level. The election of Ilham Aliyev as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 15 October 2003 ensured political continuity in our country established by Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in the period of independence, as well as successful continuation of the line of legal democratic state enshrined in special articles of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan by popular vote on 12 November 1995.

The presidential election fully reflected the will of the Azerbaijani people. At this important historical moment, the factor of outstanding statesman Heydar Aliyev and great hopes assigned to Ilham Aliyev as a leader of a new type complemented each other. Ilham Aliyev is predominantly characterized by the presence of many qualities necessary for a head of state in Azerbaijan. First of all, the main difference and advantage of Ilham Aliyev among the politicians of Azerbaijan is connected with the fact that he actually passed the school of statehood of Heydar Aliyev, an outstanding statesman of the world level. Ilham Aliyev had ample opportunity to learn the lessons of Heydar Aliyev, a far-sighted statesman with rich experience, both from his past honourable struggle in the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan and from the lessons of his responsible and difficult activity in the highest governing bodies of the Soviet Union (Politburo and First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers). Besides, on the eve of the presidential elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan, on 1 October 2003, in the address of prominent statesman Heydar Aliyev to the people of Azerbaijan, the wise characteristic given by the world-level politician had a special significance in Ilham Aliyev’s political destiny.

In addition, the difficult and honourable path that Ilham Aliyev had passed before the 2003 presidential elections in Azerbaijan was an important factor that ensured his election to this important and responsible position. Thus, in 1977-1982, he studied at one of the most advanced universities of the former USSR – Moscow State University of International Relations, and taught there as a lecturer, defended his PhD thesis and received a degree that played a unique role in a clear expression of his attitude to the statehood. Being a deputy in the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, leading our country’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 1995-2000, being elected vice-chairman of this authoritative international organization, enabled Ilham Aliyev to get acquainted with social and political processes taking place in the world, visible and invisible aspects of interstate relations and create conditions for achieving results.

In 1994-2003 Ilham Aliyev was directly participated as vice-president and first vice-president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan in the process of development of oil revenues, which were the main natural resource and important financial base of our republic. This allowed the young politician to clearly see the foundations and prospects of the economic strategy of the independent state and become one of the main executors of this task. The post of chairman of the Azerbaijan Olympic Committee, which he held since 1997, gave him the task to familiarize himself with all spheres of the country’s life. Ilham Aliyev’s honourable path in the political life of society as deputy chairman of the Yeni Azerbaijan Party since 1999 and first deputy chairman of PEA since 2001 brought him closer to the position of the head of an independent state. Although his effective activity as Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan since August 2003 covered a short period of time, he managed to convey to the people that he is a new type of leader.

Due to the presidential elections of 15 October 2003, the Azerbaijani people successfully came out of the difficult ordeal by voting for Ilham Aliyev, who won the people’s trust, following the path of Heydar Aliyev and leading the society with new leadership skills in the modern historical era. His activity was quite famous in Europe and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The fact that Ilham Aliyev won the first round of the presidential election in which he participated for the first time with 76.8 per cent of votes has already proved that he has a special influence in the country.

President Ilham Aliyev’s management abilities, decisive and national interest-based domestic and foreign policy, which he demonstrated from the first days of his tenure as the highest state official, soon yielded positive results. People’s trust and confidence in their leader increased. That is why Ilham Aliyev once again won a convincing victory in the presidential elections held in 2008, 2013 and 2018.

Recommended literature:

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