Azeri Strongman Sworn in after Criticized Poll
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was sworn in for a third term on Saturday after romping to victory in a widely criticized election in the oil-rich ex-Soviet country.
The inauguration ceremony took place in the parliament in Baku immediately after the constitutional court confirmed Aliyev's crushing win in an October 9 poll that international observers called seriously flawed.
"I swear to observe the constitution of the country and to serve to protect the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," Aliyev said according to the state-run news agency Azertac.
Aliyev's third term extends what is already a decades-long rule by his family. He won some 85 percent of the vote, far ahead of his main challenger Jamil Hasanli with around 5.5 percent.
Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said the poll fell well short of international standards and Aliyev's opponents demanded the result be annulled.
The 51-year-old Aliyev -- who took power in 2003 in a disputed election after the death of his father Heydar, a former KGB officer and Communist-era boss -- has been buoyed by billions in petrodollars over the past decade.
Any sign of dissent usually meets a harsh reaction in the tightly-controlled nation and rights groups accused the authorities of jailing scores of opponents in the run-up to the vote.
Aliyev is expected to continue treading a cautious path between the West and Russia, ensuring that Azerbaijan remains a key energy source for Europe and a U.S. ally while not upsetting its giant northern neighbor.
At home, he faces the tougher task of keeping rising discontent over high-level corruption and inequality in check.
Source: Agence France Presse
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