Məzahir Pənahov has a chance to become the chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) again.
Medianews.az reports that Məzahir Pənahov was appointed a member of the CEC on May 19, 2000, and has been the chairman of the body since then.
The CEC, responsible for preparing and conducting presidential, parliamentary, municipal elections as well as referendums, has 6 seats held by representatives of the majority party in parliament, 6 seats held by minority parties, and 6 seats held by representatives of non-party deputies. The members are elected by the National Assembly for a term of 5 years. The election of the chairman is within the authority of the CEC members.
Məzahir Pənahov, who is the representative of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party in the CEC, was last elected chairman of the body on April 27, 2021. On April 22, 2026, the New Azerbaijan Party announced its candidates for CEC members. Məzahir Pənahov is among them.
Born in 1951, during Məzahir Pənahov’s chairmanship of the CEC, 3 referendums, 5 presidential elections, 6 parliamentary elections, and 5 municipal elections have been held in Azerbaijan.
Constitutional amendments were made in the referendums held on August 24, 2002, March 18, 2009, and September 26, 2016.
Presidential elections were held on October 15, 2003, October 15, 2008, October 9, 2013, April 11, 2018, and February 7, 2024.
Parliamentary elections took place on November 5, 2000, November 6, 2005, November 7, 2010, November 1, 2015, February 9, 2020, and September 1, 2024.
Municipal elections were held on the following dates: December 17, 2004, December 23, 2009, December 23, 2014, December 23, 2019, January 29, 2025.
The next presidential election is scheduled for 2031, the parliamentary election for 2029, and the municipal elections for 2030.