CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
Elections are the main source of manifestation of democracy in the socio-political life of the country. At the same time, the voting right associated with the right to elect and be elected is fundamental.
The political life of any state is evaluated by the quality of the elections held in this country. This means, that elections have a great importance for increasing the country's international prestige.
In the life of the Turkmen people, the right of citizens to elect and be elected originates from the depths of history. From a historical point of view, this phenomenon is explained as follows. In the history of Turkmens, each representative of the people on the council was considered equal. At such councils, both the shepherd and the elder had the right to vote. Justice, openness and equality were the main principles in the selection of officials, and these principles were fully implemented.
In the history of Turkmenistan, the norms governing the expression of the will of the people pass through life through the weft of elections. In the history, state and other issues of the will of the people were decided at the councils as a result of elections. If one of the issues remained unresolved, then it remained open. If the issue was not resolved in a timely manner, then it was then decided by an open vote of the people.
Independent and constantly Neutral Turkmenistan, as a result of the wise visionary policy of the respected President, is growing and prospering every day. In our country, which is confidently moving forward with the speed of a steed, in many directions is held a lot of fruitful work.
In our country, in epoch of power and happiness, the electoral system is being improved more and more simultaneously with all other industries. Due to the great attention of the Head of State to the electoral system, close support for the work of the Central Election Commission, in our country, elections are held in accordance with international standards and on the basis of national democracy.
On January 14, 2013, the distinguished President of Turkmenistan in his speech at a meeting with deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan stated: “Legal standards should be improved to guarantee citizens of Turkmenistan respect for one of the most important political rights - the right to elect and be elected, and in the future to develop and adopt the Electoral Code”. Based on this request, the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan was prepared and adopted.
Based on the initiatives of the Dear President within the improving the legislation on elections and referendums, guided by international and national practices, the adoption of the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan contributes to the holding elections in our country in an organized and international manner.
The Constitution of Turkmenistan and the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, which include internationally accepted democratic standards for the holding elections, are the legal basis for the elections held in our country.
It will be noted, that within the works of further developing the democratic principles of the holding elections, the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan is being consistently and modernly improved in our country, that is, amendments and additions are made to it.
Amendments and additions made to the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan testify to the effectiveness of ongoing work to improve the electoral law, and also contribute to the holding elections in our country even more organized and based on democratic principles.
Guided by the national democratic principles specific to the Turkmen people, the elections in our country are held in accordance with internationally recognized requirements of the electoral law and on an alternative basis.
Elections - an event aimed at the election of one of the candidates by voting. Elections - a concept meaning the active participation of citizens in the socio-political life of the country.
Citizens through democratic elections participate in the management of society and the state. The direct participation of each citizen in the management of society and the state means his participation in the discussion of draft laws, participation in referendums, and election to elected posts.
Participation in the management of society and the state through freely elected representatives is understood as the management of society and the state through the election by the people of their representatives to make political decisions, laws and implement programs aimed at improving the well-being of the people.
In general, elections are elections through voting of representatives, officials, and heads of institutions of representative bodies of power.
Elections are an integral part of a democratic state.
Democratic elections are elections that combine five basic principles: universal, equal, direct, secret and holding through free voting.
In our multinational state of Turkmenistan, elections are held for the President of Turkmenistan, deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the Halk maslahaty of velayats, the city of Ashgabat, etraps, cities, as well as members of the Gengeshes.
Elections of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the Halk maslahaty and the Gengeshes are held on the last Sunday of March.
On the elections held in our country, special attention is paid to gender equality. More precisely, the high number of women among the members of election commissions, national observers, candidates, as well as among elected deputies and members demonstrates full compliance of the democratic principles of the elections and the political activity of women in our country.
In the modern world, monitoring of the holding elections and referendums is important for the development of democracy in society and the protection of human rights.
Local observation of elections contributes the implementation of elections in accordance with national law, international requirements and transparency. Also, works of observing the holding of elections by observers have a particular importance in preventing some violations of the law, and not repeating in the next elections some of the previously committed ones, in one of the elections, violations and increasing public confidence that the elections are based on the principles of justice.
Democratic elections occupy a main place in the political life of every state. Along with this, it determines the future directions of development of the state, the political and state structure, and the rights of civil society. Free elections are one of the democratic ways to legitimize state power, improve socio-political relations. An important issue for the successful implementation of these important areas is the improvement of electoral legislation, democratic experience in organizing and holding elections, as well as their recognition by the participants in the electoral process and the international community.
The invitation of international observers to the elections held in our independent state demonstrates the giving great importance to the holding elections in clarity and on the basis of democratic principles.
The main goal of international observing democratic elections is aimed to protecting and developing the electoral rights of citizens, facilitating the implementation of international obligations to hold elections at a democratic level.
To this end, in constantly neutral Turkmenistan, promoting the establishment of benevolent interstate relations in the world, the invitation of foreign (international) observers to the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, held on the basis of democratic principles, has acquired a peculiar political significance.
In addition, on the elections of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the velayat, etrap, city Halk maslahaty and Gengeshes in dozens of polling stations of the city of Ashgabat and velayats, special video cameras were installed for online demonstration of voting through the website of the Central Election Commission saylav.gov.tm.
And this, testifies about the fact that, together with a demonstration of the unfolding conditions of openness and clarity of elections, wide opportunities are created for observing the democratic elections held in our country for both the Turkmen and the world public.
On the elections held on March 25, 2018, the heads of international observer groups from authoritative international organizations - the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, at a press conference with media representatives separately emphasized that Turkmenistan, having held elections in open and explicit conditions, demonstrated commitment to a democratic path of development. And this fully indicates that the elections were held in accordance with the law, generally accepted democratic principles and highly organized, all conditions were created for voters to freely express their will.
At a meeting of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan on September 25, 2019, the distinguished President noted: “Considering the transformations taking place in the world and the experience gained in many countries, it is advisable to switch to a bicameral system and add the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan and the Mejlis of Turkmenistan to the system of bodies that implement the tasks of representative legislative power.
The transition to a qualitatively new, bicameral system will provide an opportunity to represent the interests of all sectors of the Turkmen society, and create conditions for the exercise of control functions in law enforcement practice”.
It should be noted separately, that this wise proposal of the distinguished President sets the goal, keeping in mind the further strengthening of the lawmaking of civil society, based on a consistent and decisive advance towards the principles of justice of our democratic state, further multiplication of the authority of our democratic, legal and secular state throughout the world, increasing the dignity of our united and peaceful people.
We express our gratitude to the President Arkadag, who pays special attention to further improving the work of the electoral system of our democratic state and resolutely leading the people of Turkmenistan in a democratic way to freedom and peace to brilliant heights of development, and also wish the national Leader health, longevity, high dignity, further prosperity of all endeavors on the good of the people and the country!
Maksatmyrat GELDIYEV,
Chief specialist of the Organizational department of Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan.