Election Date: December 14, 2008

Abstract: At stake: Assembly

At stake: Assembly

Background

From 1991 to 2006, Saparmurat Niyazov was Turkmenistan’s president. He had acted as the area’s Communist Party chief since 1985. Niyazov’s tenure was characterized by eccentricities, which included a reliance of herbal remedies to deal with hair loss, so that his countrymen would not experience the "unpleasantness" of having a bald leader, and his decision to ban smoking in public places after experiencing major heart surgery in 1997.

Niyazov was first elected in 1994, and then was cleared by the Assembly in 1999 to rule until his death. The president also had a meteorite named after him, banned the use of make-up for TV presenters and established a medical facility geared exclusively for horses.

In June 2002, former foreign minister Boris Shikhmuradov formed the Turkmen Democratic Opposition in Vienna, and accused Niyazov of violating human rights. In November, following an alleged assassination attempt on the president, more than 100 people were detained and 46 were convicted, including Shikhmuradov. Critics sustain that the attack was staged, and then used as an excuse to crack down on Niyazov’s political rivals.

In October 2004, the People’s Council rejected Niyazov’ proposal to hold presidential elections in 2009, and asked him to remain in office until his death.

Turkmenistan renewed its Assembly in December 2004, but only hand-picked candidates belonging to the governing Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT) were allowed to join the contest.

Click here for Turkmenistan 2004 Assembly Election Tracker

On Dec. 21, 2006, Turkmen state television announced that president Saparmurat Niyazov had died after a sudden cardiac arrest. A presidential election was called.

According to Turkmenistan’s constitution, parliamentary chairman Owezgeldi Atayev should have become the interim president, but deputy prime minister Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov took the position instead. According to published reports, Atayev was dismissed by Berdymukhamedov because he faced charges of abuse of power, human rights violations and "committing a deed incompatible with the high position entrusted to him."

On Dec. 26, the People’s Council of Turkmenistan announced that a presidential election would take place on Feb. 11, 2007. The legislature also cleared six candidates to run in the ballot, including Berdymukhamedov, after quickly amending existing legislation to allow interim presidents to seek a full term.

The remaining contenders were all close to the governing DPT and are not expected to mount a serious challenge to the interim head of state.

Turkmenistan’s opposition in exile reacted with dismay at the political developments. Former foreign minister Avdy Kuliyev announced that several factions had endorsed Nurberdy Nurmammedov, but that the prospective candidate had "disappeared."

Voting took place on Feb. 11. More than 2.65 million people were registered to vote and, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC), voter turnout stood at 98.65 percent.

On Feb. 14, Berdymukhamedov was declared the winner with 89 per cent of the vote and was immediately sworn in. In his acceptance speech, the new president declared: "I will devote my life to the greater glory of Oguz Khan (a historical figure) and will follow the course of Turkmenbashi the Great."

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said the Turkmenistan election was neither free nor fair.

Click Here for Turkmenistan’s 2007 Presidential Election Tracker

According to the government, Turkeminstan has begun a transition from a single-party state into a multi-party system. The 2008 legislative election will be the first after the enactment of a new constitution.

2008 Assembly Election

The year 2008 began with Turkmen president Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov announcing the beginning of a new "historical era" called "Taze Galkynysh" (New Revival). The president also introduced a new slogan: "The state is for the people".

On Sept. 28, a new constitution was approved. The People’s Council ceased to exist, and the number of lawmakers in the unicameral Assembly was extended to 125. Berdymukhamedov declared: "The new constitution corresponds to all international and democratic norms".

On Sept. 29, Berdymukhamedov said that Turkmenistan wants to become a "democratic secular society" which enjoys "civil rights" and vowed to work towards introducing a free-market economy. The president also stated: "All this will make it possible to create the preconditions needed for the country to achieve steady forward progress."

On Oct. 30, the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums (CCER) said Turkmen citizens living abroad will be allowed to cast a ballot in the upcoming vote.

Also on Oct. 30, Michael Dennison, a global risk analyst based in London, commented on the impact the global financial crisis will have on Turkmenistan, saying, "The global economic crisis will have a much lesser effect in Turkmenistan. The simple reason for this is the country hasn’t integrated with the global economy. (...) The financial sector [in Turkmenistan] is much less developed than in other states of the Former Soviet Union and as such global currents are less applicable."

Other analysts, however, have warned that gas-rich Turkmenistan will suffer from falling commodity prices. Others also point at the importance of Russia’s economy—which is not immune to the global crisis—to the former Soviet nation.

Technically, the legislative ballot is open to candidates from all parties, and not just to members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT).

On Dec. 5, the Central Election Committee (CEC) revealed that 288 candidates have registered to take part in the election.

On Dec. 8, the Community of Independent States (CIS) observer mission issued its interim report on the campaign in Turkmenistan. The document reads: “After visiting district and precinct election commissions, observers assessed their work as open and transparent. (...) The election campaign is being held in line with the election legislation and characterized by free exchange of opinions and transparency.”

Voting took place on Dec. 14. The Central Election Commission claimed that 93.87 per cent of all registered voters took part in the election, but some opposition groups and human rights organizations questioned the validity of these claims, and suggested that turnout may have been lower than 30 per cent.

Political Players

President: Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov - Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT)

The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: Following constitutional reforms approved in September 2008, the Khalk Maslakhaty (People’s Council) was abolished. The new unicameral Mejlis (Assembly) will have 125 members, elected to five-year terms in single seat constituencies.

Results of Last Election:

President - Feb. 11, 2007

	Vote%
Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov	89.23%
Amanyaz Atadzhikov	3.23%
Ishanguly Nuryyev	2.38%
Mukhammednazar Gurbanov	2.37%
Orazmyrad Garadzhayev	1.55%
Ashyrniyaz Pomanov	1.31%

Assembly - Dec. 19, 2004 and Jan. 9, 2005

The ruling Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT) ran and elected every candidate in every constituency.

 

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