The Azerbaijan Hope Party (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Ümid Partiyası) or Ümid Party is a political party that was first registered in Azerbaijan in 1993. Its political stance is center-right, promoting liberal and democratic ideals. The party has regional branches in 65 regions of Azerbaijan and some 5,000 members.

Azerbaijan Hope Party
Ümid Partiyası
AbbreviationÜP
LeaderIgbal Agazade
ChairpersonIgbal Agazade
FounderAbulfat Ahmadov
Founded1993
Legalised5 May 1995
HeadquartersBaku, Azerbaijan
Membership59,000
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right[5]
ColoursYellow
Slogan"Ümidli gələcək, ümidlə gələcək"
Seats in the National Assembly
0 / 125
Party flag
Website
Website of the Hope Party

History

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The Ümid Party was first registered in 1993. In December 2002, Iqbal Agazade left the Civic Unity Party (CUP) and became leader of the Ümid Party.

During the 2003 electoral campaigning period, the party held meetings in Baku and in regional areas. The 2003 Azerbaijani presidential election took place on 15 October 2003. After voting finished, the party raised concern that there had been cases of voter suppression and on 16 October, that results had been falsified. On 17 October, Igbal Agazadeh and his associates were arrested. Agazadeh was sentenced by a criminal court to 3 years imprisonment.

International organisations advocated for Agazadeh. On 20 March 2005, he was granted amnesty by presidential edict. In 2005 campaigning period, the party presented 30 candidates to the electorate. Agazadeh was elected to the Milli Majlis (National Assembly of Azerbaijan).[6]

In 2010, the party joined the Qarabağ voting bloc. The bloc included the Azerbaijan Democrat Party and the Intelligentsia Party.[7]

At the 9 February 2020 election, the party presented some 70 candidates to the voters. However, on 11 February, the 2020 election results were deemed null and void.[8]

Between 2011 and 2020, the Azerbaijan Ministry of Justice registered no new political parties. However, in 2021 at least seven new political parties were registered. In addition to this relaxing of electoral conditions, the incumbents began talks with opposition parties. The Hope Party participated. Agazade said, "It is better to have an exchange of ideas across a table than stand far away from each other and fight".[9]

Former members of the Azerbaijani Social Democratic Party and the Civic Unity Party joined the Hope Party.[10]

In 2023, government regulations contributed to the demise of some of Azerbaijan's long-standing political parties such as the CUP and the Azerbaijani Social Democratic Party (ASDP).[11][12] However, the Hope Party maintained its standing and some 5,000 members.[13]

Election results

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National Assembly elections

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2005 İqbal Ağazadə
1 / 125
New   5th Opposition
2010 21,605 0.90
1 / 125
  0   9th Opposition
2015 14,815 0.52
0 / 125
  1   10th Extra-parliamentary
2020 7,565 0.32
0 / 125
  0   10th Extra-parliamentary
2024 12,858 0.54
0 / 125
  0   10th Extra-parliamentary

References

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  1. ^ Official Manifesto, Azerbaijani: "Vətənpərvərlik, millətsevərlik, mübarizlik və vətəndaşlıq ideyalarını geniş təbliğ etmək;" English: "We widely promote the ideas of patriotism, nationalism, militarism and citizenship;"
  2. ^ Official Manifesto, Azerbaijani: "Partiya Azad bazar iqtisadiyyatını formalaşdırmaq;" English: "The party aims to develop a free market economy;"
  3. ^ Official Manifesto, Azerbaijani: "Sosial ədalətin təmin olunmasında qanuni vasitələrdən istifadə etmək;" English: "To use legal means to ensure social justice;"
  4. ^ Official Manifesto, Azerbaijani: "Siyasi maarifçilik; Demokratik hüquqi dövlət qurulması istiqamətində yaradıcı, tərəqqipərvər qüvvələri birləşdirmək;" English: "Political enlightenment; To unite creative, progressive forces in the direction of building a democratic legal state;"
  5. ^ Official Manifesto, Azerbaijani: "sağ mərkəzçi siyasi təşkilatdır." English: "this is a center-right political organization."
  6. ^ "PARTİYA Azərbaycan Ümid Partiyası" (in Azerbaijani).
  7. ^ "ADP və Ümid Partiyası "Qarabağ" siyasi partiyalar blokunun təsis olunması barədə saziş imzalayıb". Apa.az (in Azerbaijani).
  8. ^ "35 saylı Xətai Üçüncü Seçki Dairəsində nəticələr ləğv olunub". Apa.az (in Azerbaijani).
  9. ^ Isayev, Heydar (12 November 2021). "Azerbaijan cultivates one-way political "dialogue"". Eurasianet. Harriman Institute, Columbia University. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Vətəndaş Birliyi Partiyası". Meclis.info.
  11. ^ "Ölkənin ən məşhur partiyası özünü buraxdı: Əlizadələrin qurduğu 34 illik ASDP-nin SON BƏYANATI". musavat.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  12. ^ "Azərbaycanda daha bir partiya özünü buraxdı: VBP-nin son BƏYANATI". musavat.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  13. ^ "Edliyye Nazirliyi iki partiyani qeyde aldi".

Bibliography

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