Referendum results prove people’s trust in President Aliyev

Azerbaijan has successfully held the referendum, which was another democratic event, Ali Ahmadov, the country’s deputy prime minister, said in an interview with Azerbaijan newspaper.

“Azerbaijani citizens’ active participation in the referendum and seventy percent voter turnout were an important aspect of this democratic event,” Ahmadov, who is also deputy chairman and executive secretary of the New Azerbaijan ruling party, said.

"The Referendum Act signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev envisages amending 29 items of the country’s constitution,” he said. “This is the biggest constitutional reform, which will entail significant changes in the political system and governance practice."

“The country’s citizens stood for the issues put to the vote as they were initiated by President Aliyev,” he said. “Azerbaijani people trust President Aliyev.”

Ahmadov emphasized that the referendum results once again proved uncontested leadership of President Aliyev and people’s high trust in him.

"Azerbaijan has a great future,” he said. “The ongoing economic reforms were fixed in the legislation after the referendum. I am sure that afterwards, the reforms will be carried out more rapidly.”

"The opposition’s protest against any initiative of the authorities has become customary,” he said. “But people did not pay any attention to the opposition’s protest and rallies. The opposition lost its authority before people.”

Azerbaijan held a nationwide vote on amending the country's founding law – the Constitution on September 26. The citizens of Azerbaijan were asked to express their will by repealing or accepting particular changes and proposals through a direct vote.

As many as 117 international observers – MPs from over 30 countries as well as observers from various international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) – were accredited by Azerbaijan’s CEC to observe the referendum.

Observers fixed high activity of the population, while no serious breach of law was registered. The number of polling stations in the referendum was 5,600 and there were about 10 observers in each polling station.

The proposed changes envisage the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, the establishment of the first vice-president and vice-president positions in the country as well as the cancellation of minimum age limit for presidential candidates, dissolution of parliament by the president.

Final results of the nationwide vote will be announced until October 21.

Previously, referendums were also held in Azerbaijan in 1995, 2002. The last time changes to the Constitution were made seven years ago, following Constitutional referendum held in 2009.