Stylish and polished in Azerbaijan<\/p>\n
Rufat Abbasov, Reuters\/Baku, Azerbaijan<\/p>\n
Azerbaijan has an image problem: it is ruled by a dynasty,
\ncorrupt officials squander its oil wealth, police beat up
\nprotesters and it has just held an election Western observers
\nsaid was spoiled by fraud.<\/p>\n
But it has a public relations ace up its sleeve.<\/p>\n
Enter First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, fashion icon, charity
\nworker and philanthropist who is bringing a soft-focus glow to
\nthe hard face of Azerbaijan's ruling elite.<\/p>\n
Aliyeva, who trained as an eye doctor, is now a member of
\nparliament after winning more than 92 percent of the votes in her
\nconstituency in an election earlier this month.<\/p>\n
The victory underlined her huge popularity in the ex-Soviet
\nstate on the Caspian Sea. Her biggest fans are among the poor who
\nhope some of the glamour -- and wealth -- that she represents
\nwill rub off on them.<\/p>\n
"She promised to build new schools, sports centers, create new
\njobs and we're sure she'll do it," said Solmaz Kassymova, from
\nthe village of Tyurkan on the outskirts of the capital, part of
\nthe constituency the First Lady will represent.<\/p>\n
"For over a decade we couldn't get anyone to fix our problems
\nwith the water supply. There wasn't an official we hadn't
\nappealed to. But all we had to do was mention this problem once
\nto Mehriban and it was fixed within days."<\/p>\n
Azerbaijan is a Muslim state of 8 million people. It supplies
\na growing volume of oil to world markets but 49 percent of the
\npopulation lives below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
The Nov. 6 parliamentary election gave victory to supporters
\nof President Ilham Aliyev. Western observers said the vote was
\nnot free or fair because of ballot-rigging and police violence
\nagainst opposition demonstrators.<\/p>\n
Role model<\/p>\n
However, Aliyev -- elected to succeed his father Haydar in
\n2003 -- is popular with voters and analysts say his wife deserves
\nmuch of the credit.<\/p>\n
"Mehriban Aliyeva's activities as First Lady help build a
\npositive image for the authorities," said political analyst Ilgar
\nMamedov. "Her high popularity ratings ... have helped boost the
\npresident's rating," he said.<\/p>\n
Aliyeva does not disclose her date of birth but she is
\nbelieved to be in her early 40s. She has two daughters of student
\nage and an eight-year-old son, also called Haydar. Her staff
\nrefused requests for an interview.<\/p>\n
Tall and slim, she wears designer outfits and, usually, a pair
\nof fashionable sunglasses.<\/p>\n
Her most visible role is as head of the Haydar Aliyev
\nCharitable Fund, which builds new schools and orphanages.<\/p>\n
A documentary on local television showed the First Lady
\nhanding out gifts and cuddling small children on a visit to an
\norphanage.<\/p>\n
Many people believe she is an influential political player
\ntoo, advising her husband on important decisions. Some observers
\neven predict she will make a presidential bid herself early next
\ndecade.<\/p>\n
Analysts say she is just starting out in politics and it is
\nimpossible to know how much real influence she has in
\nAzerbaijan's opaque political decision-making process.<\/p>\n
Many voters say they would be delighted if their First Lady
\nbecame president. "I believe she is a national institution and
\nwhen I'm talking to foreign visitors I list her name after oil,
\ncaviar and culture," said student Shahin Akperov.<\/p>\n
REUTERS<\/p>\n
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