CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
The 2019 year in Turkmenistan was one of the years full of democratic principles. In order to exchange opinions on this, we turned to the deputy chairman of the Central commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan to Amangeldi Gandymov, the secretary of the Central Election Commission Amangeldi Annadurdyev, the head of the organizational department of this commission Berdimyrat Garyagdyev.
– The 2019 year was one of the key years to the perfection of Turkmen democracy... Amangeldi Gandymovich, share your opinion about this?!
– Correctly noticed. Political events held by the Central commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan during the year clearly indicate the deepening of Turkmen democracy. In accordance with the resolution of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan dated January 5, 2019, the elections instead of early retired deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, members of the velayat, etrap and city Halk maslahaty, Gengeshes were held on March 31, 2019. Elections over the country were held in 44 etraps, cities with etrap rights, in 81 Gengeshes, and in 125 constituencies, including:
- by the elections of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan - in 3 constituencies;
- by the elections of members of the velayat Halk maslahaty, the city of Ashgabat - in 4 constituencies;
- by the elections of members of etrap, city Halk maslahaty - in 16 constituencies;
- by the elections of Gengesh members - in 102 constituencies.
A total of 222 polling stations were established on the elections.
Holding elections based on democracy was in full view of society. Political parties, public associations, groups of citizens, and 357 national observers nominated by candidates observed all stages of the elections. As you see, this means that democratic principles have deeply grafted into the election system of our country.
– Amangeldi Byashimovich, now holding elections in a multi-party system has become a kind of tradition...
– Very correctly noticed. On the elections held on March 31, 2019, this moment was clearly manifested. On the elections held in a multi-party system, the relevant election commissions registered 281 candidates from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan, and also from a group of citizens. More precisely, 7 candidates for deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, 11 members to the velayat Halk maslahaty and the city of Ashgabat, 36 members to the etrap, city Halk maslahaty, 227 members to Gengeshes.
180 candidates were nominated from political parties and 101 candidates from a group of citizens. More precisely, 104 candidates from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, 15 from the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, 61 from the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan, 101 from a group of citizens.
– Berdimyrat Gulgeldiyevich, tell us about the active participation of citizens on the elections?
• By the elections of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, out of 80.230 voters, 73.106 or 91,12% voted;
• by the elections of members of the Halk maslahaty of the velayat and the city of Ashgabat out of 50.713 voters, 46.080 or 90,86% voted;
• by the elections of members of the etrap and city Halk maslahaty out of 44.093 voters, 39.997 or 90,71% voted;
• by the elections of members of Gengeshes out of 33.312 voters, 30.281 or 90,90% voted.
– Tell us about the results of these elections?
– Of the 281 registered candidates over the country, 125 people were elected to representative bodies. In particular, out of 7 candidates for deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, 3 deputies were elected, out of 11 candidates for the Halk maslahaty of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, 4 members were elected, out of 36 candidates for the Halk maslahaty of the etrap, the city, 16 members were elected, out of 227 candidates for the Gengeshes, 102 members were elected.
– Thank you all very much for the interview.
The interview was recorded by A. Akmyradov.