The election marathon has started. With whom and how does Ilham Aliyev go to the polls?

The launch of the pre-election campaign for the early presidential elections in Azerbaijan on January 15 marked the commencement of a political season featuring seven candidates, including the incumbent Head of State, Ilham Aliyev. As per the Electoral Code, the campaign period spans 23 days before the election, culminating one day before the vote set for February 7.

However, Mirali Huseynov, chairman of the Public Association for the Study of Democracy, offered a more detailed look at the early stages of the electoral cycle in the program "A Difficult Question". Acknowledging the nascent nature of the campaign, Huseynov highlighted a pervasive lack of enthusiasm among the population. This apathy, he posited, stems from both the unexpected nature of the elections and a perceived absence of viable alternatives or genuine competitors.

The electoral landscape has been marred by a history of elections that failed to meet international standards, or even the country's own legislation, casting doubt on the legitimacy of previous contests. The absence of real contenders and equal opportunities in past elections has contributed to a general disillusionment, fostering passivity among citizens.

Addressing the recent candidate debates, centered on issues of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the Karabakh conflict, Huseynov characterized the discussions as resembling a round table where participants shared their thoughts. He noted a lack of diversity in positions among candidates, highlighting a unanimity in supporting the policies pursued by President Ilham Aliyev. Despite minor nuances, the discussions failed to offer voters a clear understanding of candidates' visions on critical issues such as the peace agreement, the future of Karabakh, and the potential withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent from the region.

Huseynov critiqued the candidates for their lack of charisma and failure to introduce new ideas or fresh perspectives. He observed a collective absence of passion, strategic promises, or a genuine pursuit of victory among the candidates. In the absence of intrigue and political drama, Huseynov concluded that discussions about electoral activity were premature, emphasizing the need for candidates to inject vitality and distinctiveness into the campaign to captivate the interest of the electorate.