Elections in Turkmenistan
Encyclopedia
Turkmenistan elects on national level a head of state
- the president
- and a legislature
. The Elections in Turkmenistan have been widely criticized for being completely fraudulent
and attempting to give an appearance of legitimacy to what is in reality a dictatorship
. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4108659.stm The only legal party is the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
, though that may change after constitutional reforms enacted on 26 September 2008. Both president and Assembly have a five-year term.
, the president was to be elected for a five year term by the people. President Saparmurat Niyazov
, was elected unopposed on 21 June 1992. In a referendum in January 1994, it was decided that he would be president for eight more years. In 1999, the country's parliament decided that he would be president for life
. He died on 21 December 2006. An election to replace him was held in 11 February 2007.
on a national level. The Assembly
(Mejlis) has 65 members, elected for a five year term in single seat constituencies. Turkmenistan is a single-party state
; the only political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
, is the only party legally allowed to hold power. All candidates at the elections belonged to this party. All candidates at the elections of 7 April 2003 (which had a turnout of 89.3%) belonged to the DPT. The Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council
) which is considered the ultimate representative body, has more than 2,500 members; it was abolished in late 2008, with the Assembly expanded to 125 members.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
- the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
- and a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The Elections in Turkmenistan have been widely criticized for being completely fraudulent
Show election
A show election, also known as a sham election or rubber stamp election, is an election that is held purely for show, that is, without any significant political purpose...
and attempting to give an appearance of legitimacy to what is in reality a dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4108659.stm The only legal party is the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the only political party in Turkmenistan. The DPT was led by former Soviet provincial Party leader Saparmurat Niyazov from the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s until his death in 2006...
, though that may change after constitutional reforms enacted on 26 September 2008. Both president and Assembly have a five-year term.
Presidential elections
On declaring independence from the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the president was to be elected for a five year term by the people. President Saparmurat Niyazov
Saparmurat Niyazov
Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov; , was a Turkmen politician who served as President of Turkmenistan from 2 November 1990 until his death in 2006...
, was elected unopposed on 21 June 1992. In a referendum in January 1994, it was decided that he would be president for eight more years. In 1999, the country's parliament decided that he would be president for life
President for Life
President for Life is a title assumed by some dictators to remove their term limit, in the hope that their authority, legitimacy, and term will never be disputed....
. He died on 21 December 2006. An election to replace him was held in 11 February 2007.
Legislative elections
Turkmenistan elects a legislatureLegislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
on a national level. The Assembly
Assembly of Turkmenistan
The Assembly is the legislative branch of Turkmenistan. It has 125 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies.- History :Originally, it shared power with the People's Council....
(Mejlis) has 65 members, elected for a five year term in single seat constituencies. Turkmenistan is a single-party state
Single-party state
A single-party state, one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election...
; the only political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the only political party in Turkmenistan. The DPT was led by former Soviet provincial Party leader Saparmurat Niyazov from the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s until his death in 2006...
, is the only party legally allowed to hold power. All candidates at the elections belonged to this party. All candidates at the elections of 7 April 2003 (which had a turnout of 89.3%) belonged to the DPT. The Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council
People's Council of Turkmenistan
The Halk Maslahaty was the highest representative body in Turkmenistan . It was abolished in the new constitution of 2008....
) which is considered the ultimate representative body, has more than 2,500 members; it was abolished in late 2008, with the Assembly expanded to 125 members.