Azernews.Az

Today is a significant day, Deputy Chairman - Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan party Ali Ahmadov said, at a briefing on the results of the presidential election in Azerbaijan.

"The election has already taken place. Azerbaijani people expressed their will. According to the results of exit-poll, Ilham Aliyev is ahead of the other candidates by a significant margin," Ahmadov said.

"We can say that Ilham Aliyev has been elected as the President of Azerbaijan for the next five years," Ahmadov said. "Active participation of voters is a result of great respect for Ilham Aliyev."

According to Ahmadov, over the past 10 years, Ilham Aliyev has seriously changed the standard of living of citizens of Azerbaijan in a positive direction. The country has achieved great economic development.

"Another reason for great confidence of the people of Azerbaijan in Ilham Aliyev is country's stability. Every citizen has a stable life, he is confident in the future," Ahmadov said.

He said Azerbaijan's economy will get even stronger in the next five years, the country's international image will further increase.

According to Ahmadov, the election campaign was conducted in accordance with the law.

"Equal conditions were created for each candidate, but some candidates were not able to take advantage of it," Ahmadov said.

The presidential election voting, which took place on Wednesday, was completed in Azerbaijan at 19:00 (local time).

According to the first results, incumbent President Ilham Aliyev won the elections.

This year ten candidates compete for the top job, including chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, President Aliyev, Umid Party leader Igbal Aghazade, self-nominated candidate Zahid Oruj, chairman of the United Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, Modern Musavat party leader Hafiz Hajiyev, Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party chairman Araz Alizade, National Revival Party leader Faraj Guliyev, chairman of the Adalat (Justice) party Ilyas Ismayilov, Jamil Hasanli from the opposition National Council as well as chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloghlu.

The number of eligible voters in the country is nearly 5,145,000. The voting is conducted in 5,492 polling stations. Thirty-eight polling stations were set up abroad.