Azerbaijan calls September referendum on greater presidential powers

Azerbaijan's highest court approved on 25 July 2016 an initiative by President Ilham Aliyev to extend the head of state's term of office to seven years from five, a step his critics named illegal and undemocratic.

Ratifying an extension in the presidential term would require constitutional amendments and a referendum, the constitutional court said in a statement.

These changes would allow Aliyev, in power since 2003, to further tighten his grip on power after his third term ends in 2018. A 2009 referendum scrapped Azerbaijan's two-term presidential limit, effectively enabling Aliyev to rule for life, provided he keeps being re-elected.

Reuters, 25.07.16: Azerbaijan top court clears Aliyev's bid to extend presidential term http://www.reuters.com/article/us-azerbaijan-presidency-term-idUSKCN1051SO

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