Azerbaijan's president votes in constitutional referendum

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has cast his ballot in the referendum on constitutional amendments that is being held in the country on Monday. The president performed his civic duty at a local polling station established in the secondary school - Public School number 6 - which he used to attend as a youngster located in the downtown area of the nation's capital of Baku.


The head of state's spouse Mehriban Aliyeva and other family members have also voted together with the president. He left the polling station without giving any statements to the press.


The amendments to 23 articles of the Constitution and six new articles proposed to be added to the Fundamental Law, were put on the referendum. Some of the amendments concern the governmental system. For example, citizens are requested to express their opinion on the amendments stipulating the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, establishing the posts of the first vice president and vice presidents appointed by the head of state.


The voting in the referendum is being conducted at 5,267 polling stations in 125 districts, with more than 53,000 local observers and 117 international representatives monitoring the voting. Four organizations are conducting exit polls: Arthur J. Finkelstein & Associates from the US, OpinionWay from France and two local organizations, the ELS Center and Ryay (or Opinion).

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