Vice Presidents of Azerbaijan

The Vice President of Azerbaijan (officially First Vice-President and, potentially, Vice-Presidents) is the second-highest executive office in the country, established by a constitutional referendum in September 2016. Prior to that, Azerbaijan’s political system had no vice-presidential role; executive power was concentrated in the presidency.

First Vice-President: Mehriban Aliyeva

The only person to hold the vice-presidential office so far is Mehriban Aliyeva. She was appointed First Vice-President on 21 February 2017 by President Ilham Aliyev after the constitutional amendment created the office.

Mehriban Aliyeva is a physician, longtime public figure, and First Lady of Azerbaijan. Before her vice-presidential appointment, she served as a member of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) and led major cultural and social institutions such as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

As First Vice-President, her responsibilities include supporting the president in executive functions, representing Azerbaijan in international engagements, and spearheading social, cultural, and humanitarian initiatives. Because the role is created by presidential appointment, she commands immunity from prosecution during her tenure, with removal only possible at the president’s discretion following constitutional procedures.

Role of Parliamentary Hearings and Oversight

In Azerbaijan’s system, vice-presidential appointments do not go through a formal legislative hearing or confirmation process like in some parliamentary or presidential systems elsewhere. Instead:

The President unilaterally appoints the First Vice-President. The constitution places no requirement for parliamentary vetting or hearings for this appointment.

Parliament does not hold formal confirmation hearings for vice-presidents. There may be parliamentary discussions on national policies or the activities of state bodies involving or referencing the First Vice-President, but these are not formal “hearings” tied to appointment authority. For example, lawmakers have discussed cultural heritage projects under her leadership during committee sessions.

The vice-presidential role is firmly within the executive branch, and formal oversight (such as hearings) is limited compared with legislative powers over ministries or independent institutions.

Additional Vice Presidents

While the constitution allows the President to appoint additional Vice-Presidents below the First Vice-President, no such appointments have been made to date. Only the First Vice-President position is filled.