Ruling Party Declares Victory In Azerbaijan's Parliamentary Elections

WATCH: Voting Irregularities Mar Azerbaijan's Elections

BAKU -- An exit poll in Azerbaijan's February 9 parliamentary elections suggests President Ilham Aliyev's ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) has increased its share by four seats in the single-chamber legislature and only one opposition candidate has won a seat.

The exit poll conducted by the U.S.-based firm Arthur J. Finkelstein & Associates suggests YAP won a total of 69 seats in the 125-seat parliament. The YAP had 65 seats in the outgoing parliament, the Milli Majlis.

The exit poll also suggests that Azerbaijan's nominally independent candidates, most of whom support the policies of the YAP, won 41 seats in the elections.

According to the exit poll, the only opposition candidate expected to make it into the next parliament is Erkin Gadirli of the Republican Alternative Civic Movement (REAL).

Aliyev's YAP declared victory during the early morning hours of February 10.

A statement on the party's website said: "Exit poll results make us think that New Azerbaijan got a majority of votes."

Hikmet Hacizade, a Baku-based political analyst and democracy advocate, told RFE/RL that, if the ruling YAP is challenged by even a handful of the nominally independent lawmakers in the new parliament, it will be a change from the previous assembly.

"In the outgoing parliament, no one spoke up," Hacizade said. "Actually, there was nobody from the opposition [in the previous parliament.]"

He says it will be "a blessing" if "there are just five people in the [new] parliament who speak independently and have the heart to speak up."

He also said that lawmakers will bear shame if they were elected as independent candidates but "do nothing" in the new parliament."

The snap election was called by Aliyev in December 2019. The ballot was boycotted by some opposition parties in protest over limitations on access to media and the right to peaceably assemble.

Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) said turnout was 47.81 percent of eligible voters with more than 2.5 million people casting ballots.

The official turnout for the last parliamentary elections in 2015 was 55.7 percent.

Reports of irregularities included multiple voting, interrupted video feeds at polling stations, and hindrance or abuse of independent observers.

Critics have cast serious doubt on hopes of genuine reforms that might strengthen the country's long-beleaguered opposition.