The appointment of Novruz Mammadov: the priority of security over the economy

On 21 April the Azerbaijani parliament approved the representation of the republic's president about the appointment of 71-year-old Novruz Mamedov to the post of prime minister, who replaced 83-year-old Artur Rasizadeh. This procedure, including the current representative status of the head of government, and Mammadov's personality indicate that the issue of security and stability of higher power remains a priority in relation to the economy.

The post of prime minister since 2002 became the second after the presidential in the state system and was called upon to ensure continuity of the country's governance in case of incapacity of the president. All these years Arthur Rasizade successfully held this post and distinguished himself during the transfer of power from Aliyev Aliyev to Aliev in 2003. In 2016, President Ilham Aliyev strengthened the issue of continuity, and introduced through the referendum the post of the first vice-president, to which his spouse, Mehriban Aliyeva, was appointed.

There are still two vacant posts of vice-presidents, but still the prime minister remains the third person in the hierarchy of executive power. The fact that the security issue remains a priority is evidenced by the fact that Novruz Mammadov has little understanding in the economy and cannot participate fully in decision-making, and also that he was not seen in the internecine struggle within the government, solely acting as an assistant to the president for international issues. That is, in the prime minister's chair with his current status, such a person is needed - without claims to the leader, committed and capable of making the necessary decision in case of force majeure.

As can be seen, Ilham Aliyev will maintain the established system of economic management by the presidential authority, by attracting to the process the First vice president, to whom after appointment in February last year, were delegated responsibilities for managing the socio-economic bloc.

Last year, Turan predicted that the First vice president could step up in this direction after institutional reform of the system and within the framework of road maps of reforms adopted in 2016.

Institutional and personnel changes that began after the April 11 presidential election allow us to say that, taken into account the priority of the security issue, economic reforms will nevertheless come to the fowarde.