CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
As is known, a meeting of the People's Council (The Halk Maslahaty) of Turkmenistan was held in the capital on September 25, 2019. At that meeting, a new round of constitutional reforms was launched in our country on the initiative of the President. The main purpose of this initiative upon considering the achievements of our society and world experience is to improve the functions of the People's Council and create a bicameral structure of the legislature. At the same time, with the establishment of a bicameral structure of the legislative body in our country, all conditions will be created to bring the work of democratic institutions to a higher level.
A constitutional group has been set up to develop and generalize proposals on amendments and additions to the Constitution of Turkmenistan, taking into account the tasks of creating conditions for the further democratization of public and state life in our country. The working group of Mejlis of Turkmenistan carried out specific work to study, analyze and generalize the numerous proposals submitted to the Constitutional Commission from citizens, political parties and public associations, various branch departments, and local institutions of our country. After analyzing and discussing all the proposals of “on amendments and additions to the Constitution of Turkmenistan” the drafting of the Constitutional law of Turkmenistan was drafted. At the suggestion of the President, the drafting of the Constitutional law was published in the press and made public. The draft of the Constitutional law has aroused great interest among our people. The majority of people supported the proposal in naming our National Parliament to the National Council of Turkmenistan (Türkmenistanyň Milli Geňeşi), also to create a bicameral structure of the Parliament and to name its chambers the People's Council (The Halk Maslahaty) and the Mejlis. Our citizens have made their suggestions by speaking at conferences and in the media. To discuss the drafting of constitutional law, the Head of State created all opportunities to study the thoughts of our citizens of the country and based on the receipt of the recommendations of our people it is proposed to add 3 articles to the Constitution, make appropriate changes and additions to the content of 27 articles and removal of one article.
The composition of the Council (The Halk Maslahaty) of the National Parliament for the formation of the People's representatives, the number of provinces and the city of Ashgabat, as well as the procedure for their election and appointment, and the qualifications of candidature for membership of the People's Council (Khalk Maslakhaty) and their term of office are fully supported by our citizens. Also, to expand the powers of the People's Council (The Halk Maslahaty) of the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, as well as to strengthen their role in society as local representative bodies with the right to form the composition of the People's Council (The Halk Maslahaty), the approval of the procedure for the formation of the People's Council (The Halk Maslahaty) set out in the draft which means that all the proposals of our citizens have been fully taken into account.
In conclusion, the drafting of the constitutional law “on amendments and additions to the constitution of Turkmenistan” has been completed.
The draft Constitutional Law for approval is planned to be submitted to the next meeting of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty) of Turkmenistan, which will be held in September this year. The adoption of this law will be a historic event for our Fatherland and our beloved people. Also, it will open up vast opportunities for the formation of a bicameral structure of the legislature of our state and for the triumph of democratic principles in governing the country.
One of the main goals of our esteemed President is to ensure strict legislation in the country. In this regard, in an era of prosperity and happiness, our Basic Law is the most reliable legal basis for the socio-economic development of our country, strengthening an independent basis and permanence of neutrality of our state, as well as further enhancing the credibility of our country.