Currently, 26 parties operate in Azerbaijan. From time to time, the activities of parties are seriously discussed. Critical approaches to the activities of parties also manifest themselves at certain times.
It is interesting to know how this year was remembered for political parties and what innovations occurred.
Modern.az conducted a survey among parties in this regard.
Mushfig Jafarov, Member of Parliament from the New Azerbaijan Party: “The New Azerbaijan Party, founded by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, has always remained loyal to its goals and ideals, successfully implemented the tasks it set, and is the strongest, most monolithic political organization in our country, with no other party comparable to it in terms of public and political influence.
Today, the Heydar Aliyev mission is honorably, responsibly, and selflessly continued in Azerbaijan, accompanied by an unparalleled political course resulting in immense achievements. Azerbaijan's progress is clearly visible from every corner of the world, and the foundation of this truth is the successful and consistent policy implemented by Mr. Ilham Aliyev for the welfare of the people. The purposeful policy implemented is highly supported by the Azerbaijani people and confidently leads our country forward on the path of democracy.
In recent years, the New Azerbaijan Party has laid the foundation for a new historical stage in the socio-political life of our republic. Established as a result of the ideas, foresight, and determination of the party's leader, Ilham Aliyev, YAP has affirmed itself in all senses, successfully incorporating new nuances of our modern history.
It can be stated with certainty that the ruling New Azerbaijan Party will continue its successful political activities in the coming years in accordance with its political program and will achieve all the goals set for the future development of our country.”
Razi Nurullayev, Chairman of the National Front Party: “Our biggest innovation is that we have been able to preserve the party's existence. The world has changed, politics has changed, the ruling party has come to the forefront in all senses and has become very strong thanks to President Ilham Aliyev. At the same time, people's interest in politics has significantly decreased. Therefore, maintaining existence and surviving is such a serious success.”
Fazil Mustafa, Chairman of the Great Establishment Party: “This year, the signing of the protocol of intent between Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding Karabakh at the White House at the state level attracted attention within our party, creating a hopeful environment for Azerbaijan's security, which is an important priority for us, and for the opening of a future major communication line. As a party, we supported this process. I believe this should be regarded as one of the greatest achievements of the Azerbaijani people.
On the other hand, state interests are prioritized in such matters. Our party also carried out its work in this direction. Serious attention was paid to the organization of our party this year. We participated in the organization of several events. In discussions on current issues concerning citizens, we presented our proposals to the government. As a party representative, we took an active stance in parliament. We regularly brought up problems concerning the people of Azerbaijan and voters, and we succeeded in solving several issues. This is also our success as a party. In other matters, the Great Establishment Party will continue its active role in the socio-political life of the country.”
Akif Naghi, Chairman of the Free Homeland Party: "Our party is relatively young compared to others. Our work towards the normal formation of the party has continued. We have participated in the inter-party political dialogue ongoing in the country. The work carried out by the Department for Relations with Parties and Legislative Bodies of the Presidential Administration is a positive trend. Healthy party formation is taking place in the country. We are also participating in this work. I believe this year has been positive in terms of both inter-party dialogue and rapprochement. At the same time, a cleansing process is underway within the country this year. We are participating in this process with our stance. We have tried to contribute to the process related to the events concerning the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party led by Ali Karimli, and their connections with Ramiz Mehdiyev and his group, regarding their activities against statehood. Visits of parties to the liberated territories have been organized starting from March. We have also actively participated in this process. We have participated in international inter-party conferences. We have had our own visits to regions for organizational purposes and related to the activities of local branches. We have paid more attention to organizational work. We have had visits to our regions. At the same time, continuous meetings of the political council are held in Baku. During these meetings, the situation of our country and our party was discussed. Tasks related to organization and propaganda have been set. The implementation of these decisions has been checked. We have tried to increase the number of our members. Currently, clarifications are being made. According to the information given to me, at least 200 new members have joined the party this year."
Natig Jafarli, Chairman of the REAL Party: “2025 was a year in Azerbaijan where political parties could not show much activity, as it was not an election year. The main work of political parties occurs during elections and the pre-election period. In 2025, our activities focused more on structural work, attracting new members, and introducing our positions more closely to citizens through public appearances. We are a party represented in parliament. Throughout the year, we sent inquiries to various bodies regarding complaints received by both our Member of Parliament and our party, and we tried to solve the problems of dozens of our citizens.”
Sardar Jalaloglu, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party: "2025 can be regarded as a period of decline both globally, in Azerbaijan, and within our own party. Many conflicts emerged worldwide. Our country faces very serious economic and social problems. Likewise, there is stagnation within our party itself. Therefore, I evaluate 2025 as a very difficult and unproductive year."
Mutallim Rahimli, Chairman of the Justice Party: “2025 will remain in the history of the Justice Party as a difficult year. The founder and first chairman of the party, public, political, and state figure Ilyas Ismayilov, passed away on February 17. This was a very great loss for us.
Thereafter, the absence of a leader began to be clearly felt within the Justice Party. Unfortunately, a group emerged attempting to engage in factionalism and violations of the Charter. However, with the will of the party members, this destructive process was quickly brought to an end. On May 17, the Justice Party held its IX congress, resolving all problems fundamentally. A new chairman was elected to the party, and it resumed its political activities. Although the first half of 2025 was difficult for the Justice Party, the second half was successful. The Justice Party actively participates in the political life of our country and fulfills its mission.”
Aghasif Shakiroghlu, Chairman of the Future Azerbaijan Party: “In 2025, the ranks of the Future Azerbaijan Party expanded. It was a year of discovering new party activists and functionaries. This year, 1200 new members were admitted to the Future Azerbaijan Party. We were registered with 5800 members at the Ministry of Justice. This year, we increased the number of members to 7000.
The party's human resources base strengthened, and the healthy government-opposition dialogue that began 5 years ago was reinforced. In 2025, the continuity of this dialogue, despite some detractors, became the main line of fundamental state policy. Those who sought to disrupt the political dialogue were removed from the political arena and relegated to the archives of history.
The Future Azerbaijan Party is preparing for elections. We believe that next year there will be serious reforms in our country, and a referendum will be held. This year, traitors to the homeland were also exposed. Therefore, this year was beneficial not only for parties but also for our state. We wish success to all our citizens and colleagues.”
Gulagha Aslanli, Deputy Chairman of the Musavat Party, chaired by Isa Gambar: “Our party maintained its monolithic nature and loyalty to its political line in 2025.
Partiyanın Gənclər Təşkilatı yenidən formalaşdı və daha səmərəli fəaliyyət göstərməyə başladı.
The party successfully continued its foreign policy. It promptly responded to all events occurring in Azerbaijan. It continued its efforts towards the release of political prisoners.”
Niyamaddin Ordukhanli, Deputy Chairman of the Justice, Law, Democracy Party, chaired by Qudrat Hasanguliyev, Member of Parliament:
“The work of political parties is to participate in the socio-political life of the country. This year, we – the Justice, Law, Democracy Party – have been engaged in promoting the ideas envisioned in our program. We have always protected state and national interests. As a political party, we have carried out educational work. When there are elections, a party must participate in the election. We have always participated in elections. From that perspective, achievements may be related to elections. No election was held in 2025.”
Elshan Musayev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party: “The Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party, as always, strived to distinguish itself with its effective activities in 2025 and, naturally, structured these activities in accordance with national and state interests.
From the beginning of the year until today:
We participated in 2 international events. In January, there was an increase of 300 people in the list of members we submitted to the registry. 2 new district organizations (in March and July – in Salyan and Masally) were established.
A new deputy and advisor were appointed to the party chairman. Approximately 20 events dedicated to various political and social topics were held in the capital and regions. We have signed all joint statements related to national issues.
As a Party, we participated in the visits to Karabakh organized by the relevant department of the Presidential Administration.”
Arzukhan Alizade, Chairman of the Azerbaijan National Independence Party: “The year we are leaving behind was successful for our party. Since we have been represented in parliament since 2024, a part of our party's activities has been directed towards this. At the same time, we participated in municipal elections.
As 2025 was the year of the next congress, preparatory work for the congress was carried out starting from March-April, and report-election conferences were held in our district organizations. Decisions related to adaptation to the new era were adopted.
The further expansion of our activities, covering all regions of the country, has been ensured. The process of admitting a new young generation to the party and the expansion of our party's youth organization has taken place. This is also considered a success for our party. Our party's representation in parliament has given impetus to this expansion.
At the same time, cooperation has been established with several organizations in the context of international relations. In May, we participated in the next congress of the International Democrat Union in Brussels. A declaration regarding Azerbaijan and our region was adopted. This declaration included a call for amendments to the Armenian Constitution, holding a referendum, fulfilling its obligations, and signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan.
The issuance of such a declaration by an influential organization, which includes over 100 right-of-center parties from more than 80 countries, should be considered a success not only on behalf of our party but also on behalf of our state.
The draft resolution submitted by AMIP was also included in the agenda of the Executive Meeting. The draft resolution reflected the inability of the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the Karabakh problem, Azerbaijan's restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty by its own strength, thereby achieving sustainable peace and stability in the region, the emergence of opportunities for Armenia to gain sovereignty against the backdrop of new realities in this context, the opening of the Zangazur corridor, as well as the importance of removing all existing obstacles towards the signing of a final peace agreement between the parties, and other issues.
The draft resolution, brought to the attention of the meeting participants by IDU Chairman Stephen Harper, was adopted with only one representative from the EPP abstaining, and all other representatives voting in favor.”
Tural Abbasli, Chairman of the White Party: “2025 was not an election year, so it was not marked by any particularly unusual events. Naturally, parties continue their organizational work every day, every year, every month, striving to increase the number of new members. We have also tried to engage in these activities.
Our party continues to be a leading socio-political institution in Azerbaijan. For the political community, this year was also remembered for the “Mehdiyev case.” Parties are mainly remembered for congress and election years. That is, we accepted this year as one of the subsequent years. It was not remembered for significant events in the party's life. It was a standard year.”
Press service of the Umid Party, chaired by Iqbal Aghazade: “Although 2025 did not stand out as an ordinary calendar year for our country, thankfully, today we have no serious losses at the state level, and there is a ceasefire on our borders after achieving our sovereignty and independence.
The Azerbaijan Umid Party has always stood by the state, the people, and the nation, supported the state's foreign policy, and acted alongside our state against all forces that came against us and did not wish us well, and will continue to do so.
As every year, our party considered it a priority to conduct its activities not only within an organizational framework but also by listening to the real internal problems of the people and offering solutions for them.
After the presidential elections on February 7, 2024, the Umid Party declared itself a Program Party.
A party that offers proposals for society and the state to change and transition to new governance must, of course, also make changes itself. Thus, last year, significant steps were taken within the party towards restructuring, ensuring more active participation of youth and women, and making decision-making mechanisms more open and collective. We are not a party that pursues window-dressing politics, but a party that works for the state and the people, takes steps to solve their problems, and offers proposals. Including last year, our party continued to pursue a policy against confrontations, in accordance with our Charter.
We believe that society needs proper guidance and enlightenment, not tension. That is precisely why, in our political rhetoric, we consistently emphasized arguments and proposals, rather than emotional accusations.
As a Program Party, we focused our activities on several key directions. These directions were, of course, built upon education, healthcare, social justice, and the future prospects of youth. We presented these topics not as campaign tools, but as a long-term political line for the welfare of our society, and we continue to do so.
Every week, our party officials – including the party chairman and members of the Board of Directors – appeared before millions of viewers on the country's well-known terrestrial and internet television channels.
Today, the Umid Party, as a well-known, structured party in Azerbaijan, continues to admit new members to its ranks in 2025, as it does every year, and takes steps and offers proposals towards solving society's problems through its relevant bodies.
We are a party that proposes constitutional amendments and the restoration of the proportional electoral system. Thus, as a party, we believe that improving social conditions and the living standards of the population, providing special concessions to the low-income segment of the population, reducing utility costs, providing child benefits, establishing democratic societal governance, protecting human rights, and ensuring independent court decisions are among the most important steps to be taken domestically.
After the victory achieved in the 44-day Patriotic War, Azerbaijan rose to the level of a country that plays an important role in the Middle Corridor project and achieves effectiveness in its foreign policy, as one of the states with which the world reckons.
As the Umid Party, we believe that the successes we have achieved in our foreign policy must absolutely permeate into our country's domestic affairs. I think last year was remembered precisely for our party's policy in this direction. We wish peace, tranquility, and prosperity for our country, and as a party, we will continue to do our best for positive results in this direction...
We wish that the upcoming Solidarity Day and New Year be beneficial, successful, and prosperous for our people and our state!”
Samir Asadli, Deputy Chairman of the Civic Solidarity Party (CSP), chaired by former MP Sabir Rustamkhanli: “2025 was remembered as a year of activity for the Civic Solidarity Party (CSP) from both an organizational and political perspective. From the beginning of the year, the party's activities continued in close connection with the country's socio-political agenda.
The first months of the year were marked by municipal elections held across the country. The party's propaganda and agitation campaign particularly stood out in this process. Party representatives visited villages, settlements, and neighborhoods, holding direct meetings with voters. These meetings became an important platform not only for the election campaign but also for understanding the real problems of society.
One of the main advantages of municipal elections is precisely the opportunities for live communication at the local level. During face-to-face dialogue with voters, what the people of Azerbaijan desired and how they wished to see the country was learned on the spot. Based on the election results, 12 members from the party gained the right to representation in various municipalities, which indicates the strengthening of the party's positions in local governance.
In January, the membership register submitted to the Ministry of Justice was updated in accordance with the requirements of the new Law “On Political Parties.” The inclusion of over 500 new members in the register confirms increased public interest in the party and its structural expansion.
One of the significant events for the party in February was its relocation to its own new office. The new headquarters was renovated and put into use through the party's internal resources, which is regarded as an indicator of organizational independence and institutional development.
During March-May, conferences of the party's local organizations were held in all regions of the republic. Within the framework of these conferences, reports were given on the work done, and directions for future activities were determined. This work carried out in the regions served to further strengthen the party's ties between the center and the regions.
In May, a large-scale conference was held with the participation of party members. In addition to organizational issues, the country's socio-political situation, the party's position, and prospective goals were discussed at the conference.
In September, the party's next congress-level conference took place. Changes were made to the composition of the Supreme Council at the conference, and at the end of the year, the next meeting of the Supreme Council was held, and a new chairman was elected to the Supreme Council. These changes indicate the party's renewal and the functionality of its internal democratic mechanisms.
Throughout the year, party chairman Sabir Rustamkhanli participated in several international conferences held in Europe, Turkey, and Central Asian countries, conveying the party's position to the international community. These visits are of significant importance for expanding CSP's international political relations.
In addition, the party adopted various statements and appeals related to the country's socio-political life, and organized scientific, political, and historical conferences, roundtables, and other public events on topical issues. These events aim to contribute to the formation of a healthy political discussion environment in society.
Thus, 2025 was a memorable year for CSP, marked by both structural strengthening and increased political activity.”
Press service of the Vahdat Party, chaired by Adam Ismayil Bakuvi: “2025 has been remembered as a period of activity rich in innovations and productive for the Vahdat Party. In the year we are leaving behind, the party's extraordinary VI congress was held, and based on the congress's decision, Adam Ismayil Bakuvi was elected as the new chairman of the party. This year, the renewed strategic goals of the Vahdat Party were also presented to the public. As a result of the work done, there has been an increase of approximately 6,000 in the number of party members.
Under the renewed Vahdat Party, a Scholars' Club; Women's Organization; Department for Work with Veterans; Young Athletes' Club; and Youth Organization have been established and commenced operations.
One of the priority directions of the Vahdat Party has been to strengthen work with youth. Recently, members of the Young Athletes' Club under the Vahdat Party returned from international competitions with high achievements and worthily represented not only our country but also the Vahdat Party.
The number of women in leadership positions in the party has increased. Previously, only one district organization was chaired by a woman. Currently, 7 district organizations of the Vahdat Party are chaired by women.
In August, a broad discussion was organized with the participation of linguists and experts on the occasion of the Day of the Azerbaijani Alphabet and Language. In connection with Victory Day, the leadership of the Vahdat Party held a series of meetings with war veterans and martyrs' families, and gifts were presented to over 100 families. Finally, an ideological conference was held on the occasion of Victory Day. A large-scale blood donation campaign covering the entire country and every district was organized to replenish the Blood Bank on the occasion of Victory Day. A series of educational events were held throughout the country within the framework of the Year of Constitution and Sovereignty. Lastly, a symposium was held with the participation of prominent public and political figures.
On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a visit was made to a home for disabled persons, connections were established with the community of hearing-impaired individuals, and an autism center was visited. On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, a meeting was held between the party chairman and youth. Meetings were organized with leading NGO members of the country. A football competition was held within the party. A joint conference was held with political parties from foreign countries. Cooperation with these organizations is now commencing. Full structural changes have been implemented in the regions, and the activities of the institutions have been adapted to the modern era. Close cooperation with the press has begun, and information about the party has been made publicly available.
This year, a pioneering initiative in Azerbaijan came from the Vahdat Party: the function of the party chairman's first deputy is performed by an Artificial Intelligence-based female model.
Preparations are currently underway for the launch of the party's new media resource. A series of events are planned to be held by the end of the year: a chess tournament, a large-scale event with the participation of leading Azerbaijani media and public figures on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis, the renewal of the party's visual identity, and rebranding are envisaged. The Vahdat Party, which is on the public agenda with its message of social solidarity, will continue its projects serving the welfare of society, national solidarity, and innovative political governance in the upcoming period.
Hafiz Hajiyev, Chairman of the Modern Musavat Party: "The most memorable achievement for our party in 2025 was the expansion of our party ranks. The influx of intellectuals into the party has strengthened. The women's organization is very strong. We have greatly strengthened the youth organization. Our party has wanted and still wants to come to power. Our people have great faith in us. In 2026, we will put forward an even stronger political position and participate in the resolution of political issues.”
Giyas Sadigov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Party: “I congratulate our people on the upcoming Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year.
2025 was generally marked by serious arrests and events in Azerbaijan. Our party traditionally engaged in organizational work. A memorable event was the departure from chairmanship of Panah bey, who had led the party for many years.
I wish that 2026 be a more successful year for our people and our party members!”
Musa Aghayev, Chairman of the New Era Party: “Unfortunately, the main activity and dynamism of parties are felt from election to election. But this is fundamentally wrong. Because parties are living organisms and operate throughout the year. There are various objective and subjective reasons for this. But we also continue our work.
This year, our main direction of activity has been the expansion of party ranks and taking steps towards party building. I have had meetings with local organizations in Ganjabasar, the southern regions, Karabakh, and, of course, Baku. During 2025, slightly more than 1600 people joined the party. I believe this is not a bad indicator.”
It should be noted that we could not obtain information regarding the activities of the Motherland Party in 2025. Currently, a split has emerged within the party. Although Fazail Aghamali, who had led the party for many years, stepped down from the chairmanship in favor of his daughter Gunay Aghamali at the extraordinary congress held on October 25, his son Elchin Aghamali, a representative of the party structure, also expressed his ambitions to become chairman. Although Fazail Aghamali announced his intention to hand over the party's leadership to his daughter, there were also party members who supported Elchin Aghamali's candidacy.
