[4] The party pressured Ayaz Mutallibov, Azerbaijan's first president to implement democratic reforms and forced him out of power in 1992 when he tried to cancel the 1992 presidential election in a self-coup.

The party has also boycotted several elections, citing an unbalanced playing field and repression by the incumbent government.

[5] PFA came to unite several informal public organizations which were established in the 1980s to struggle for the independence of Azerbaijan from the Soviet Union.

The country chose a pro-western, liberal economic course and established the national currency, the Azerbaijani manat.

General Heydar Aliyev captured power in 1993 following the 1993 Azerbaijani coup d'état and the Subsequent vote of confidence referendum on Abulfaz Elchibey's presidency.

Considering the dramatic and challenging situation facing PFA following the coup, Ali Karimli took the initiative by leading and protecting the organization from the attacks of the new regime from 1993 until 1997 and restoring its political power.

Consequently, PFPA first suggested and then proclaimed the unification of opposition as the surest means to free and fair elections.