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Azerbaijani president appoints his wife as First VP

Xinhua, February 21, 2017 Adjust font size:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree Tuesday to appoint his wife Mehriban Aliyeva as first vice president of the country, the presidential website said.

The posts of first vice president and vice president were created last September after a constitutional referendum, which also extended the presidential term from five to seven years.

Under the amendments to the country's constitution, the occupants of both vice presidential posts will be appointed and dismissed by the president.

Presidential powers in Azerbaijan will devolve to the first vice president -- rather than to the prime minister, who needs to be approved by the parliament, in the event that the president becomes incapable of discharging his duties.

Aliyeva, 52, became a designated UNESCO goodwill ambassador in 2004 due to her work in the field of preservation and development of folk literature and music heritage in Azerbaijan.

She is also a member of the parliament and president of the country's gymnastics federation. Endi