U.S. Presidential Election: Which Candidate is Preferable for Azerbaijan?
Today, the U.S. is holding its presidential election. The contenders for the presidency include current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. On July 21, the Democratic Party's candidate for the 2024 election, current President Joe Biden, announced his withdrawal from the race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. Donald Trump, on the other hand, represents the Republicans in this election.
Which candidate’s victory would better serve Azerbaijan’s interests? Political commentator Nasimi Mammadli addresses this question and others on the show "Difficult Question."
According to Mammadli, despite existing connections between Donald Trump and the Azerbaijani elite, his victory would not align with Azerbaijan's national interests. If Trump comes to power, he is likely to lift all restrictions related to the oil sector. This would lead to a drop in global oil prices, which is not in Azerbaijan’s favor, as its economy is largely based on energy extraction. Given the decline in Azerbaijan's oil production volumes, the country’s economy might not withstand such pressure.
Furthermore, Trump’s campaign commitment to strengthening the U.S. dollar could also have negative implications for Azerbaijan’s economy.
In the event of Kamala Harris's victory, not much would change for Azerbaijan. Democratic appeals regarding human rights would not significantly impact Azerbaijan, as these are primarily rhetorical.
In the expert’s view, Trump’s chances of winning appear stronger. His support base includes the conservative segment of society, "rednecks" (rural white farmers) and industrialists, particularly from the oil sector. Unlike Harris, Trump skillfully addresses issues sensitive to these groups, such as concerns about immigrants and local waste management, among others.
Difficult question
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According to the Electoral Code, the term of municipal authorities in Azerbaijan is five years and expires on December 23 of this year. Voting should be announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) 60 days before the elections. However, although only 52 days remain until the election date, the CEC has not issued any statements.
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In recent days, several criminal cases have been initiated regarding some businesses engaged in foreign economic activities that have not returned funds in the appropriate currency to Azerbaijan. Reports indicate that several officials have faced criminal charges due to substantial evidence of agreements between domestic legal entities and foreign companies, with large sums of revenue generated from these activities not being returned to authorized bank accounts in Azerbaijan.
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After the parliamentary elections held in Georgia on October 26, President Salome Zourabichvili and opposition parties stated that the elections were rigged and did not recognize the results. The President called on the people to gather in front of parliament on October 28.
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On October 24, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met during the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia.
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