ARUSHA, Oct. 9 -- THE Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will choose its next president on Friday, with three senior parliamentarians from Azerbaijan, Australia and Chile competing to lead the global organisation of national parliaments for the next three years.

The election, scheduled for October 9 during the 153rd IPU Assembly in Arusha, will determine the successor to Tanzanias Dr Tulia Ackson, whose threeyear term ends this month.

The candidates are Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis; Milton Dick, Speaker of Australias House of Representatives; and Chilean Senator Rojo Edwards Silva.

The contest comes at a time when parliaments face a broad range of challenges, from geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts to declin...