President Aliyev of Azerbaijan won the early presidential election with 93.9% of the vote, facing little competition from six candidates who supported his policies. This result was expected, especially given his popularity following the Karabakh campaign. The OSCE criticized the election for lacking genuine competition. The IMF’s Article IV report on Azerbaijan was positive, noting policy adjustments in line with its recommendations and a prudent fiscal policy. Growth is projected to moderate to 2.3% in 2024, with inflation expected to stay within the central bank’s target.