Analysis Of Political Practice Under Semi-Presidentialism In Azerbaijan
Political Practice Under Semi-presidentialism
Azerbaijan has had two presidents since the Constitution was adopted in 1995. Heydar Aliyev served in this position from 1993 to 2003. He was succeeded by his son, Ilham Aliyev, who has held power since winning election in October 2003.
Both presidents have exercised their expansive formal powers, while also manipulating the political system to expand the scope of their authority. By relying on personal ties, clientelist networks, and other informal sources of power, the executive branch have enhanced their role in the political system and effectively subverted the already weak system of checks and balances outlined in the Constitution. This section explores these dynamics by analyzing the symbiosis between Constitutional and informal sources of executive authority in Azerbaijan. I first discuss the constitutional amendments that have kept power in the Aliyev family. Second, I consider the practice of politics in Azerbaijan, focusing on executive-legislative relations and the sources of policy decisions. I then turn to the mechanism by which the executive wields so much power. Here, I highlight the …show more content…
Many political analysts had expected Heydar Aliyev to engineer Ilham as his successor by appointing him speaker of parliament. However, Valiyev (2002) points out that doing so would have been suboptimal, as that position did not entail proper grooming for the presidency. “Due to the nature of power in Azerbaijan, the Speaker of Parliament has only a decorative function and does not control the core ministries—Internal Affairs, National Security, or Defence—that are the main supporters of any regime. Even if appointed Speaker, Ilham Aliyev would not wield much power. By appointing Ilham prime minister, however, the President would gradually be able to transfer actual power to him, introduce him to government affairs, [and] simply ‘teach’ him how to
Azerbaijan has had two presidents since the Constitution was adopted in 1995. Heydar Aliyev served in this position from 1993 to 2003. He was succeeded by his son, Ilham Aliyev, who has held power since winning election in October 2003.
Both presidents have exercised their expansive formal powers, while also manipulating the political system to expand the scope of their authority. By relying on personal ties, clientelist networks, and other informal sources of power, the executive branch have enhanced their role in the political system and effectively subverted the already weak system of checks and balances outlined in the Constitution. This section explores these dynamics by analyzing the symbiosis between Constitutional and informal sources of executive authority in Azerbaijan. I first discuss the constitutional amendments that have kept power in the Aliyev family. Second, I consider the practice of politics in Azerbaijan, focusing on executive-legislative relations and the sources of policy decisions. I then turn to the mechanism by which the executive wields so much power. Here, I highlight the …show more content…
Many political analysts had expected Heydar Aliyev to engineer Ilham as his successor by appointing him speaker of parliament. However, Valiyev (2002) points out that doing so would have been suboptimal, as that position did not entail proper grooming for the presidency. “Due to the nature of power in Azerbaijan, the Speaker of Parliament has only a decorative function and does not control the core ministries—Internal Affairs, National Security, or Defence—that are the main supporters of any regime. Even if appointed Speaker, Ilham Aliyev would not wield much power. By appointing Ilham prime minister, however, the President would gradually be able to transfer actual power to him, introduce him to government affairs, [and] simply ‘teach’ him how to