President of Azerbaijan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Standard of the president
Incumbent Ilham Aliyev since 31 October 2003
Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Executive branch of the Government of Azerbaijan
Residence	Zuğulba Residence in Baku (primary)
Term length	Seven years, unlimited number of terms
Formation	18 May 1990
First holder	Ayaz Mutallibov
Deputy	Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan (1991–2002) Prime Minister of Azerbaijan (2002–2017) Vice President of Azerbaijan (2017–present)
Salary	180,000 AZN annually
Website	The President of Azerbaijan

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state for Azerbaijan. This person leads the country. The Constitution says the president is in charge of the government's executive power. They are also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president represents Azerbaijan both at home and with other countries. They are also protected from being prosecuted while in office.

The president works from the main presidential building in Baku. Ilham Aliyev became the 4th president on October 31, 2003. He took over after his father, Heydar Aliyev, stepped down due to health reasons.

How a President is Chosen and How Long They Serve

Who Can Be President?

To become president, a person must be a citizen of Azerbaijan. They also need to have lived in Azerbaijan for at least 10 years. There is no age limit to become president. The Constitution allows a person to be president for an unlimited number of terms.

How Elections Work

Political groups in the National Assembly can suggest candidates for president. If a political party is not in parliament, their candidate needs to collect 40,000 signatures.

How Long is a Term?

Before 2009, a president served for five years. They could only serve two terms. In 2009, a public vote removed the limit on how many terms a president could serve. Then, in 2016, another public vote changed the term length to seven years. The government said a longer term helps with making decisions over time.

Starting the Job (Inauguration)

The president's official ceremony is not open to everyone. It includes state officials, political leaders, military members, and religious figures. Government members, lawmakers, and the president's family also attend. Foreign guests are invited too.

The ceremony happens within three days after the Constitutional Court confirms the election. The president takes an oath, promising to follow the Constitution. They also promise to protect the country's independence and serve the people.

Then, the new president places their right hand on the Koran. They promise to respect Azerbaijan's national values and traditions. After that, the president bows and kisses the Azerbaijani flag. The ceremony ends with a speech from the new president.

Here are some past inauguration locations and dates:

What the President Does

Protecting the Constitution

The president makes sure that all laws and rules in Azerbaijan follow the country's main Constitution. They ensure that everything is in line with the nation's highest laws.

Working with Other Countries

The president has important duties in dealing with other nations. They decide Azerbaijan's stance on global issues. They represent the country in international talks. The president also signs important agreements with other countries.

Leading the Military

The president is the supreme commander-in-chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. This means they are the top leader of the military. They have the power to declare martial law if needed.

Groups That Help the President

Presidential Administration

The Office of the President helps the president do their job. It makes sure the president can carry out their duties from the Constitution. This office is located in Baku. It is currently led by Samir Nuriyev.

Security Council

A meeting of the security council.

The Security Council is a group that advises the president on safety matters. It was created on April 10, 1997. The president of Azerbaijan is the head of this council. The council helps the president use their powers related to national security.

Here are some members of the Security Council:

Symbols of the President

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  Flag of the supreme commander-in-chief

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  Standard of the president

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  Flag of the president of Azerbaijan on board a State Border Service ship

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  Flag of the president of Azerbaijan on board a Ministry of Emergency Situations ship

The Presidential Standard

After the president takes their oath, they receive the standard. This special flag shows the president's high office. It is used for important events. The standard looks like a square version of the Azerbaijani flag. It has the Azerbaijani coat of arms in the middle. Golden fringe is added to the edges. Copies of this standard are used in the president's office and other government buildings. It is also used when the president travels in a vehicle within Azerbaijan. A different version of the flag is used when the president is at sea. This standard is the most common way to show that the president is present.

Military Flag

The flag for the supreme commander-in-chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces was approved on April 11, 2019. This flag is the official military symbol of the president. The original flag is kept in the president's service room at the Presidential Palace. It looks like the army flag but has the words "Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan" on it.

Presidential Badge

Badge of the President.

The president's badge was approved on September 15, 2008. It is an eight-sided star made of 18-carat gold. In the center is a small image of the State Emblem of Azerbaijan. This emblem is surrounded by two rings with 60 diamonds between them.

Where the President Lives and Stays

The main presidential home since 2008 is Zagulba. The president also has several other homes outside of Baku. These include:

• Youth Presidential Palace
• Presidential Mountain Palace in Qabala
• "Freedom" Guest House
• Palace of Happiness
• Gulustan Palace
• Presidential Library
• "Marxal" Treatment and Recreation Complex

There are also several vacation homes:

• Novkhani in Novkhani, Absheron Rayon
• Khoshbulaq in Daşkəsən, Dashkasan District
• Göy Saray in Baku
• Vahdat Presidential Summer Palace in Shamakhi
• "Ulduz" Guest House
• "Youth" Guest House

Travel and Safety

Cars which belonged to Heydar Aliyev in Heydar Aliyev Center (GAZ-13, ZIL-41047, 1991 W140-600, 1994 W140-limo)

The Special Purpose Garage provides transportation for the president. This group is part of the Special State Protection Service.

• Cars:
  • Maybach 62
  • Mercedes-Benz W221
• Motorcycles:
  • BMW (for escorts)
• Airplanes for long trips:
  • Boeing 767-300ER 4K-AI01 "Baku-1" (main plane)
  • Airbus A319-100 4K-AI02 "Baku-2"
  • Gulfstream G550 4K-AI06

The president's airplanes look similar to regular AZAL planes. But they have the Azerbaijan coat of arms or the Presidential Standard on the tail instead of the usual flag.

Presidents of Azerbaijan (1990–Present)

No.	President (birth–death)		Term of office			Political party	Government	Elected	Ref
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Ayaz Mutallibov Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov (1938–2022)	18 May 1990	6 March 1992	1 year, 293 days	Communist	1. Mütəllibov II	1990 1991
			First Nagorno-Karabakh War began; Khojaly Massacre occurred. Resigned under pressure.
–		Yagub Mammadov (acting) Azerbaijani: Yaqub Məmmədov (born 1941)	6 March 1992	14 May 1992	69 days	None	—	—
			Served as acting president briefly.
(1)		Ayaz Mutallibov Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov (1938–2022)	14 May 1992	18 May 1992	4 days	None	Mütəllibov II	—
			Returned briefly, then removed from office.
–		Isa Gambar (acting) Azerbaijani: İsa Qəmbər (born 1957)	18 May 1992	17 June 1992	30 days	Musavat	—	—
			Served as acting president until new elections.
2		Abulfaz Elchibey Azerbaijani: Əbülfəz Elçibəy (1938–2000)	17 June 1992	24 June 1993	1 year, 7 days	Azerbaijani Popular Front Party	2. Elçibəy I	1992
			Russian army left Azerbaijan; national currency introduced; Latin alphabet adopted.
–		Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijani: Heydər Əliyev (1923–2003)	24 June 1993	10 October 1993	108 days	New Azerbaijan Party	3. H.Əliyev II	—
3			10 October 1993	31 October 2003	10 years, 21 days			1993 1998
			Founded the New Azerbaijan Party; major oil pipelines built.
4		Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijani: İlham Əliyev (born 1961)	31 October 2003	Incumbent	21 years, 228 days	New Azerbaijan Party	6. İ.Əliyev I	2003 2008 2013 2018 2024
			Azerbaijan joined UN Security Council; hosted Eurovision Song Contest and European Games; involved in Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts.

Timeline

Latest Election

2024 Azerbaijani presidential election

See Also

In Spanish: Presidente de Azerbaiyán para niños

• Vice President of Azerbaijan
• Prime Minister of Azerbaijan