During Heydar Aliyev's tenure, the Republic of Azerbaijan enacted the Constitution for the first time on November 12, 1995.
The legal standing of municipalities is now explicitly stated in the constitution for the first time. More than 2700 municipalities were founded in our nation as a result of the first municipal elections, which took place in 1999. A growing body of worldwide research in this area has found that combining municipal functions is one of the best methods to boost economic and financial potential and increase efficiency. In order to meet current demands, municipalities must raise the level of their operations, improve resource utilization efficiency, and boost both their local importance and their role in resolving problems.
The Republic of Azerbaijan's "Unification of Municipalities, on Separation and Joint Activity"
The number of municipalities was combined under the law to reach 1718 delivered in 2009, and as a result of the subsequent merger procedure, the number of municipalities was decreased to 1607 in 2014. Azerbaijan National Associations of Municipalities works to achieve sustainable development of local self-government in the nation and this broadens its azerbaijani national association of municipalities. This organization coordinates the activities of the country's municipalities, adheres to international legal norms for that activity, and was established in accordance with the law at the time.
Municipal elections:
In the Republic of Azerbaijan, municipal elections were held a total of five times.
N |
Election year, month, day
|
the number of formed municipalities
|
Chosen Number of members |
1 |
12.12.1999 |
2667 |
20454 |
2 |
17.12.2004 |
2731 |
20346 |
3 |
23.12.2009 |
1717 |
15591 |
4 |
23.12.2014 |
1607 |
14963 |
5 |
23.12.2019 |
1606 |
15075 |
Merger of municipalities:
Year of merger |
Before a merger, the number of municipalities |
Reduction unit |
After a merger, the number of municipalities |
2009 |
2735 |
1018 |
1717 |
2014 |
1717 |
111 |
1606 |
Information about municipalities currently active in the republic :
Except Nakhchivan AR - 1436
City municipalities - 68
Township municipalities - 141
Rural municipalities - 1227
In Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic- 170
City municipalities - 6
Township municipalities - 8
Rural municipalities - 156
Number of municipalities overall – 1606
(74 cities, 149 settlements, 1383 villages)
The National Associations of Azerbaijan City, Town, and Village Municipalities were established in 2006 by the municipalities in order to further local self-government.
The National Association of Azerbaijan City Municipalities includes 74 city municipalities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Association of City Municipalities of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (6 city municipalities).
The National Association of Settlement Municipalities of Azerbaijan unites 149 settlement municipalities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Association of Settlement Municipalities of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (8 settlement municipalities).
The National Association of Rural Municipalities of Azerbaijan unites 1383 rural municipalities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including the Association of Rural Municipalities of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (156 rural municipalities).
National Associations of Municipalities:
The building of relationships with pertinent local self-government bodies operating abroad and the development of cooperative relationships with international organizations are tasks that National Associations view as being of the utmost importance for municipalities. National Associations have cooperated with the European Union countries, Eastern Partnership countries of the European Union and a number of municipalities of 28 states that are part of the Turkic World Union of Municipalities and their national associations. Fraternization agreements have been struck between our country's municipalities and a number of municipalities abroad in an effort to strengthen bilateral connections. Strengthening the financial capacity of municipalities, appropriately establishing the tax accounting system in municipalities, and aiding in the effective organization of local (municipal) tax and payment collection are some of the key operations of National Associations. The National Associations have been working on the Municipal Automated Information System (MAİS) initiative from the beginning of 2016 with the help of the Presidential Administration in order to collect taxes and payments and build relationships with the payers.