REGIONAL POLICY IN THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC: ACTIVATION ON THE EVE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN 2013

Abstract

The article reveals the peculiarities of regional policy in Azerbaijan, the reasons for its activation on the eve of presidential elections, as well as the actions of the government and the president to resolve socio-economic problems in the regions of the country. In Azerbaijan, as in other Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) countries in the period of independence, it is observed a priority socio-economic development of the metropolitan region and the surrounding territory. Regional policy in Azerbaijan was implemented only after the start of economic growth and flow of funds in the state budget. The first “State Program on Socio-Economic Development of Regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2004–2008 years” was adopted in February 2004. It was the general system development project. It envisaged the elimination of gaps in the levels of socio-economic development between the capital and the regions, in particular, disparities in education, in access to social and cultural services. In 2008, the second “State Program of Socio-Economic Development of regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2009-2013 years” was approved. Unlike the first, one of the priorities of its objectives was to promote and support the development of entrepreneurship and innovation in the regions. However, social inequality in the Azerbaijani society was preserved through the existence of socio-economic imbalances in the country’s regions development, comparing with the center. This caused social unrest and ferment on the eve of the presidential election of 2013. Social discontent of the population of regions of Azerbaijan showed that economic growth in the country had little impact on the living standards of the population and a large part of officials. The two programs of the regions development promoted to the solution of problems of those regions, which were adjacent to the nation’s capital. The reasons for the failure of the regional policy the government as well as opposition found out from the corruption. However, senior management recognized the corruption among officials of middle and lower ranks, while the opposition politicians accused in it also the president and his inner circle. The complex social situation of ordinary citizens was due not only to corrupt practices of local officials, but also a significant limitation of the constitutional powers of local self-government, which was actually inactive. On the eve of the presidential election in 2013 the authorities carried out a number of activities and approved initiatives to improve the socio-economic development of regions of the country: the replacement of the heads of local executive authorities, meetings between ministers and population of regions in order to accelerate their development. All this, as well as criticism of the President of the officials wore reelection character, to increase confidence to the President. However, society related to it with skepticism.