Another objective poll shows popular satisfaction with Azerbaijan’s trajectory

By Aynur Karimova  - AzerNews 

A pre-election poll recently conducted by the French Opinionway Research Company has revealed that the majority of respondents are satisfied with Azerbaijan’s current political stability and sustainable economic development.

Some 58 percent of 1,200 registered voters believe that "things in Azerbaijan are heading in the right direction," Trend reported on October 19.

As much as 54.1 percent of respondents agreed that the economic situation in Azerbaijan is getting better, 28.2 percent believe that it has not changed, while only 9.3 percent claim that it is getting worse.

The survey also posed the question, "To what extent are you satisfied with the implementation of duties by President Ilham Aliyev?" with 78.8 percent responding they are very satisfied, and 11.8 percent partly satisfied. Only 5 percent answered that they are partly not satisfied and 2.9 percent are not satisfied at all, said the polling firm.

The figures showed satisfaction with the economic and social development and political stability achieved in the last 10 years in Azerbaijan, an oil-rich South Caucasus nation of over 9.6 million people.

After Azerbaijan gained independence in 1991, the country inherited a collapsed economy from the Soviet Union. The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, along with an internal power struggle that lead to a civil war, hindered the country's development. However, Azerbaijan was able to break free of these problems thanks to the wise policy pursued by the government.

Over the past 10 years, the living standards of Azerbaijani citizens have significantly improved, and the country has developed rapidly.

Today, Azerbaijan is one of the world’s fastest growing economies and the government's development strategy is aimed not only at economic growth and political stability, but also increasing human capital and improving civil society.

Thanks to the reforms carried out over the past 10 years under the leadership of the incumbent President Aliyev, Azerbaijan has diversified its economy, social policy, oil strategy, GDP per capita, and improved efficiency in the allocation of budget revenues.

Today, Azerbaijan is modernizing its education, reforming its judiciary, infrastructure, and agriculture along with many other sectors of the economy.

Over the past 10 years, the GDP increased by 3.4 times, the non-oil sector by 2.6 times, budget revenues by 16 times, and the volume of strategic currency reserves exceeded $50 billion. More than one million new jobs have been created during Ilham Aliyev’s term as President. The rates of poverty and unemployment have also significantly reduced among all population cohorts, including the youth.

Today, the government continues to pursue a wise and purposeful foreign policy aimed at turning Azerbaijan into a leading country in the South Caucasus and into a regional power with global plans.

Azerbaijan is on the eve of an important political event – the parliamentary elections for the supreme legislative body of the country scheduled for November 1. The Opinionway poll showed that 41.2 percent of respondents are very interested in the upcoming elections and 63 percent of 1,200 respondents will certainly participate in the parliamentary elections, 12 percent will probably participate.

Also, 41.2 percent of respondents said that they are interested in the pre-electoral campaign, while 35.3 percent are partly interested. Roughly 21 percent said they are almost not interested or not interested in the campaigning.

The survey revealed that the candidates of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party were favored by 71.7 percent of decided voters, while only 6 percent said that they support the opposition party. The number of supporters of neutral candidates is equal to 16.4 percent. This means that in the vast majority of constituencies, the ruling party's candidates are expected do very well.

Furthermore, 66.5 percent of voters chose Nagorno-Karabakh as the most important problems in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh, along with its seven adjacent districts continues to be occupied by Armenia in defiance of international resolutions calling for an immediate withdrawal.

Despite the international community is remaining indifferent towards the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory, the Commander-in Chief, Ilham Aliyev has been able to decisively and purposefully expose the aggressive stance of the Armenian invaders.

The survey has gathered the pieces of a puzzle of sentiments prevailing in the society on the eve of the parliamentary elections. It once again confirmed that Azerbaijani voters are satisfied with Azerbaijan’s political and economic stability; they trust the incumbent president Ilham Aliyev and his government.

The survey in fact showed that the Azerbaijani people remain supportive to the political stability, prosperity and sustainable socio-economic development.