Why are famous politicians not participating in parliamentary elections?

Several prominent Azerbaijani politicians have announced their decision not to participate in the early parliamentary elections scheduled for September 1. Among those abstaining are Isa Gambar, chairman of the Musavat Party; Sabir Rustamkhanli, chairman of the Civil Solidarity Party and a deputy of the 6th Milli Majlis; Ilyas Ismailov, chairman of the Justice Party; and Iqbal Aghazade, chairman of the Umid Party. Additionally, Sardar Jalaloglu, chairman of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA), who initially filed his candidacy from the Babek-Shahbuz-Kangerli constituency, has also withdrawn his candidacy. Tahir Kerimli, chairman of the Unity Party and a member of the Milli Majlis, will not be participating either. Furthermore, Arif Hajili, chairman of the Mejlis and former chairman of the Musavat Party, along with several vice-chairmen of the Adalat Party, have also opted out of the elections. Vahid Akhmedov, a deputy of the 6th Milli Majlis, has withdrawn his candidacy as well.

This collective withdrawal raises the question: Why are these well-known politicians choosing to sit out the parliamentary elections?

Arif Hajili, chairman of the Musavat Party’s Mejlis, shed some light on this decision in a recent interview on the program "Difficult Question," hosted by Kamran Mahmudov. Hajili stated that both he and Isa Gambar had announced their intention not to participate in the elections even before they were officially called. One of the primary reasons for Hajili’s refusal to run is his responsibility to oversee the Musavat Party's general election campaign. He also cited a lack of resources to conduct a serious campaign as a significant factor.

Despite their absence as candidates, Hajili emphasized that the Musavat Party is still actively participating in the electoral process. The party has nominated candidates in 33 electoral districts and plans to support these candidates vigorously. This number, however, is a significant reduction from the 88 candidates the party fielded in the 2020 elections. Hajili attributed this decrease to a political environment that does not foster citizen engagement or belief in meaningful election outcomes.

“The election commissions are fully controlled by the authorities, and these commissions have repeatedly falsified elections. Citizens' hope for change through elections has also noticeably weakened,” Hajili explained. He underscored that the decision to participate in these elections, despite the challenging environment, is driven by the desire to prevent the authorities from turning the elections into a mere formality. "With our limited resources, we are trying to ensure that the elections remain a platform for alternative voices," he added.

The withdrawal of these prominent figures reflects a broader disillusionment with the electoral process in Azerbaijan. It highlights the challenges opposition parties face in mobilizing support and conducting effective campaigns in an environment perceived as heavily manipulated by those in power.