CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
Under the wise leadership of our esteemed President, our people have celebrated the 30th anniversary of our sacred Independence with great enthusiasm and unity. The grand holiday ceremony made each of us proud, because Independence is the fulfillment of our ancestors' during the centuries - old dreams. Independence - the state of Turkmenistan, that our wise poet Magtymguly Pyragy dreamed of "I want a stable state". Independence is the pride of our hearts, the core of all our successes.
During the years of Independence, great achievements have been made in all sectors of the national economy. The prestige of our country has risen internationally. This is evidenced by the deep words said by the esteemed Arkadag in the book “Independence is our happiness”: "We have accumulated valuable experience in the development of new, effective ways and direction of international cooperation. … To ensure a prosperous life, Turkmenistan is making great efforts to strengthen peace both in the region and on a global scale."
During the years of Independence, the electoral system, based on the ancient principles, based on the perfect experience inherited from our ancestors, has also been perfected, and a rich work experience has been accumulated in the conduct of elections. Positive results are also being achieved in terms of digitizing the electoral system and cooperating with international organizations.
In the fundamental reforms taking place in our country, the national Leader attaches great importance to the improvement of the political system and the democratization of all aspects of state and public life. This allows the national democratic principles to be widely celebrated in the various elections held in our country.
Looking at the historical course of the elections in our country during the years of Independence, it can be seen that 28 of the various national elections and referendums, as well as one of the indirect elections in our country, as well as a total of 29 elections were held.
More precisely,
A total of 5 presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan:
June 21, 1992;
February 11, 2007;
February 12, 2012;
February 12, 2017,
March 12 2022.
Elections of deputies of the Mejlis of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan of the 6th convocation were held:
December 11, 1994;
December 12, 1999;
December 19, 2004;
December 14, 2008;
December 15, 2013;
March 25, 2018.
A total of 7 convocation elections were held for members of the velayat, etrap and city halk maslahaty:
December 6, 1992;
April 5, 1998;
April 6, 2003;
December 3, 2006;
December 5, 2010;
November 23,2014;
March 25, 2018.
A total of 8 convocation elections were held for the members of Gengeshes:
June 27, 1993;
April 5, 1998;
April 6, 2003;
July 23, 2006;
July 26, 2009;
August 20, 2012;
August 16, 2015;
March 25, 2018.
A total of 2 nationwide referendums were also held in the country:
October 10, 1991;
January 15, 1994.
Also, in connection with the transition of the parliament to the bicameral system, the first elections of the members of the Halk Maslahaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan were held on March 28, 2021 on the basis of indirect suffrage.
Also, elections to the deputies of the Mejlis of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan, velayat, etrap, city halk maslahats, and members of the Gengesh, who left early, were held in accordance with the law and within the stipulated time. Historically, that is, until 2013, our country had its own law on each level of elections at various levels, as well as laws on referendums, guarantees of suffrage, and the Central election commission.
On the instructions of the Arkadag, as well as the proposals of international organizations, the Electoral code of Turkmenistan was approved on May 4, 2013 and entered into force on 1st of July of that year.
Thus, all the above-mentioned special laws have been consolidated and the Electoral code of Turkmenistan has been created. The Electoral code in force in our country consists of 92 articles and 18 sections.
Also, in accordance with the Law of Turkmenistan "On amendments and supplements to the Electoral code of Turkmenistan" adopted on October 24, 2020, added the article 18, entitled "Elections of members of the Halk Maslahaty" (new section VI1, consisting of articles 501–5018) to the Electoral code.
The Constitution of Turkmenistan and the Electoral code of Turkmenistan, which contain the internationally recognized democratic norms of conduct of elections, are the legal basis for elections in our country.
A total of 8 amendments and additions have been made to it based on international and national practices from the date of entry into force of the Electoral code of Turkmenistan:
Modernization of the Electoral code of Turkmenistan, which regulates the relations related to the preparation and conduct of elections and referendums, and the introduction of a number of changes and additions to it, the organization of elections in our country on the basis of democratic principles.
Elections are a unique mirror of society. Elections or referendums at any level in the country are a unique tool of measurement that reflects the degree of perfect harmony, unity, solidarity, and peace that reigns in different strata of society. The political life of any state is assessed by the quality of the elections held in that country. It mean, elections are the main source of the emergence of democracy in the socio-political life of the state and are of great importance in enhancing its reputation internationally.
We would like to thank our President, who pays great attention to the improvement of the electoral system and leads the people of Turkmenistan to a happy and democratic future.
We wish to our esteemed President a healthy, long life and high dignity, and further prosperous deeds for the benefit of the people and the country.
Hekimberdi Ovezov,
the secretary – referent of apparatus of the Commission
for holding Elections and referendums in Turkmenistan.