“The lack of specificity in the authorities of municipalities makes them insignificant and “toothless”

There are only a few days left until the municipal elections to be held in Azerbaijan on January 29.

The Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Mazahir Panahov, stated on January 6 that 16,174 candidates will be competing in the elections, of whom 8,429 are members of 23 political parties. The Chairman also noted that the number of local observers registered in connection with the municipal elections is 25,685.

In December 2024, the CEC announced that free airtime and space for publication in mass media would be allocated to political parties and blocs of political parties.

The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), however, has declined the right to free propaganda during the municipal elections.

Most political parties in the country have declared that they will participate in the municipal elections.

Only the Azerbaijan People's Front Party did not participate in the municipal elections.

Despite the short time left until the municipal elections, there is no palpable election atmosphere in the country’s agenda and there seems to be little interest in the municipal elections. What is the reason?

Mirəli Huseynov, Chairman of the “Learning Democracy” Public Union, responded to ASTNA’s questions on the topic.

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Question: Mr. Mirəli, even though there are only a few days left until the municipal elections, there is no palpable election atmosphere in the country. In your opinion, what is the reason for this?

Answer: In my opinion, this is primarily due to the role of municipalities within the political system. Being kept outside the system of state bodies, along with many associated organizational and institutional problems, has led to their reduction to the “fifth wheel.” Their lack of functionality and inability to solve local problems have consequently diminished public interest in municipalities and undermined expectations of them. Of course, among the factors affecting the current situation, the problems within election practices also play a certain role. The fact that municipal elections are held under the strong influence of local executive authorities reduces the importance of these elections and diminishes the interest in participating in them.

Question: Whose interests are served by holding a formal election for such an important institution?

Answer: I do not believe that there is any specific party with vested interests here. The answer to this question can be seen more clearly if we look at the issue from a broader perspective. It is clear that the shortcomings observed in municipal elections are also evident in other electoral bodies. If we consider the opinions of the Election Monitoring and Evaluation Team (ATET) regarding elections in the country, we can observe similar violations in parliamentary and presidential elections. Are the members of the National Assembly significantly more independent compared to municipal council members? Of course not, and it is well known how independent they are. We can draw similar parallels with other institutions. Therefore, the problem is not unique and has a universal character. This includes issues ranging from the supremacy of the law to free and fair elections.

Question: The number of municipalities has been reduced. Could this affect the level of interest?

Answer: There have been initiatives in the past regarding the reduction in the number of municipalities. During the first municipal elections in 1999, the number of municipalities exceeded 2,700. In the subsequent phase, as a result of mergers, their number fell to around 1,600. With last year’s merger, the number of municipalities was reduced to 685. No significant qualitative changes in these institutions were noted after the first merger. Since there was essentially no significant change in municipal governance, the impact of the merger on the low interest in the elections does not seem very convincing.

Question: What are the main problems of municipalities?

Answer: The main problems of municipalities at present are their limited powers and the lack of adequate financial resources to implement these powers. The fact that the authorities designated for municipalities are also held by the local executive bodies—and that power is largely entrusted to these local executive bodies—turns the municipalities into mere formal institutions. The vagueness of municipal authorities and the lack of sufficient funding render them insignificant and “toothless.” With this status, they resemble NGOs to a large extent. This, however, in no way aligns with the concept of local self-governance, and it must change.

Question: What steps should be taken to transform municipalities into an effective institution?

Answer: For a fundamental solution to the problem, the role of municipalities within the political system should be correctly defined. This should involve transforming municipalities from non-state entities into state bodies. Local executive authorities should be abolished, and all the significant local powers they currently hold should be transferred to municipalities. To exercise these powers and address issues of local significance, local revenue sources should also be under the control of municipalities. In such an organized framework, ensuring accountability and transparency will require strong public oversight. In this matter, freely and fairly elected municipal council members—who represent various groups—and local communities themselves will be key stakeholders. Thus, a competitive electoral environment, dependence on the will of the voters, strong public oversight, and other factors will ensure the functionality of municipalities.