A group of observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States, which came at the invitation of Turkmenistan, started observing the election season these days.
CIS Deputy Secretary General I. Nematov's meetings with the head of the Central Committee for Elections and Peacekeeping in Turkmenistan and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed the issues related to the elections to the Mejlis, local representative authorities and local self-government institutions. discussed. The guest was informed about the progress of the election season in accordance with the national legislation. It was said that all necessary conditions will be created for the successful operation of the monitoring team.
In his turn, I. Nematov informed about the main principles of the work of the observer group from the CIS and the organization of its work. This work will be conducted in accordance with the legislation of Turkmenistan, based on the generally recognized principles and norms of international law in the field of organizing and conducting elections. In this regard, the observer group will be guided by the fact that elections are an internal affair of the state. Accordingly, the main task of the group is to assess the compliance of the election season with the national legislation, and to facilitate the conduct of free and democratic elections.
It is planned to include more than 50 observers - representatives of the Commonwealth of Nations - parliamentarians, prominent public servants, diplomats, representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS member states, representatives of the parliamentary assembly of Belarus and Russia, and employees of the Executive Committee of the CIS. The group's press release confirms that all stages of the election season are being conducted in full compliance with election laws.
Thus, 125 district election committees and 572 election committees of cities, towns and councils in etraps were established. 125 constituencies for the Mejlis elections of Turkmenistan, in particular, 17 in Ashgabat city, 16 in Ahal velayat, 10 in Balkan velayat, 27 in Dashoguz velayat, 26 in Lebap velayat, 29 in Mary velayat. created
240 constituencies for the elections of members of provincial people's councils were created in each of the provinces and 40 in Ashgabat city. According to the elections of members of district and city people's councils, 20 constituencies were created in each of the districts and cities - a total of 960: 140 in Ahal velayat, 180 in Balkan velayat, 160 in Dashoguz velayat, 180 in Lebap velayat, 220 in Mary velayat, 80 in Ashgabat city.
14,872 candidates were nominated and registered across the country. Among them, there are 258 candidates for the National Parliament, 515 candidates for the membership of the people's councils of the provinces and Ashgabat city, 2001 candidates for the membership of the people's councils of the regions and cities, and 12098 candidates for the membership of the Councils. Candidates include highly qualified employees from all sectors of the economy, representatives of various professions. All candidates were presented on a free and equal basis, and their nomination and registration were open in accordance with the requirements of the national legislation. Pre-election campaigning and media coverage of the election season will continue until March 25.
In all districts, 2-3 candidates were nominated. This is in accordance with the principles of competition, which President Serdar Berdimuhamedov defined as an important condition for holding elections. Candidates are given equal rights and opportunities in elections. 6,241 candidates from the Democratic Party, 523 from the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, 3,577 from the Agrarian Party, and 4,531 from citizen groups were nominated for the elections. Candidates were nominated at the general meeting of voters in their constituencies.
About 3,000 national observers from the Democratic Party, the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Party, the Agrarian Party, and public organizations were registered. They were handed over their respective certificates.
Representatives from the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization of Turkish States, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization expressed interest in participating in the elections as observers. Representatives from the United Nations, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and foreign mass media are also expected to arrive.
According to the Electoral Code, political parties, public organizations, candidates, their authorized representatives, and citizen's advocacy groups are given the opportunity to conduct propaganda activities freely. Candidates are guaranteed equal conditions for appearing in the media. In accordance with the legislation in force in the country, preparations for the elections are underway in all places these days. In the course of it, candidates for deputy of the national parliament, representative local government and local self-government bodies, and their representatives hold meetings with voters.
Voters get to know the professional and organizational skills of the candidates, the main areas of their pre-election programs. The main meaning of the plans described in the programs is to ensure the development and well-being of Turkmenistan, and further increase the standard of living of the native people.
During the interviews, the candidates answered many questions of the voters, clarified some aspects of their programs before the elections, as well as the wide-ranging initiatives initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and successfully implemented by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. they assure that they will not spare their knowledge, skills, experience and efforts to implement the reform programs.
All registered candidates are given equal rights and opportunities to organize meetings with voters, to appear in the mass media, in accordance with the national election legislation and the norms of international law.
The main conditions for strengthening democratic norms in the life of our society - the principles of broad competition, openness and transparency are, as always, the main directions of this election season. Worthy representatives of the people - people who enjoy the respect and honor of our citizens - are competing for the right to be a deputy of the parliament, representative of local government, local self-government bodies.
125 deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan should be elected throughout the country. The elections of the members of the Velayat People's Council will be held in 240 constituencies, the elections of the members of the people's councils of etraps and cities will be held in 960 districts, and the elections of the members of the Councils will be held in 5897 constituencies. 2644 polling stations were created for voting.
Source: Turkmenistan: the Golden Age Online Newspaper