On Sunday, 29th of March, Turkmenistan will host an important socio-political event: elections for members of the halk maslahaty in the newly formed etraps of the velayats, as well as for those who resigned early from the Mejlis, members of the velayat, etrap, and city halk maslahat and Gengeshes.
On this day, citizens of our country, exercising their constitutional right, will go to the polls to cast their votes for the most worthy representatives of the people who have earned the respect and trust of their compatriots. In accordance with Article 63 of the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, the campaign stage has concluded.
This year, held under the motto «Independent neutral Turkmenistan – the homeland of purposeful winged horses», a large-scale program for the preparation and organised conduct of the upcoming elections included a wide range of events at various levels.
All stages of the election campaign, during which each candidate had the opportunity to meet with voters and familiarise them with the provisions of their election platforms, were conducted in a timely manner, in strict compliance with the requirements of current Turkmen legislation and generally accepted norms of international law.
Meetings between voters and candidates took place in accordance with the established and agreed schedule. The time and place of the events were announced in advance by the media. It is important to emphasise that all candidates were provided with equal conditions and opportunities for conducting election campaigning.
Elections will be held in 363 electoral districts, including: 140 for the election of members of the halk maslahaty in the newly formed etraps of the velayats, 5 for the election of replacements for early resigned Mejlis deputies, 3 for the election of members of the velayat halk maslahaty and the halk maslahaty of the city of Ashgabat, 12 for the election of members of the etrap and city halk maslahaty, and 203 for the election of members of the Gengeshes.
Elections in the country are democratic in nature, based on the principles of universal, free and secret voting. 2-3 candidates were nominated for each seat in all districts, which meets the principles of alternativeness. They were nominated by the Democratic Party, the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan, as well as by groups of citizens, where candidates were proposed by a general meeting of voters residing in the electoral district.
For 10 days before the official election date, citizens of Turkmenistan who, for whatever reason, will not be at their place of residence on that day were given the right to vote early.
The large-scale socio-political campaign will cover 43 etraps and cities within the velayats and the city of Ashgabat, as well as 156 cities, towns, and gengeshliks in the etraps.
578 polling stations will be used for voting, where 658 924 citizens of Turkmenistan have been included in the lists to participate in the vote. Of these, 11 373 people are young voters who have the right to vote and are voting for the first time.
Precinct election commissions will work on the 29th of March from 7 to 19.
The upcoming elections, which will be conducted in accordance with the law and based on the principles of openness, transparency, broad democracy, and competition, will be monitored by 667 national observers appointed by political parties, public organizations, citizen groups, and the candidates themselves.
An open electoral process, competition between candidates, the ability of observers to monitor the voting process, and transparency in vote counting are characteristic features of democratic elections.
It should be emphasised that the campaigns conducted in our country are based on the principles of national democracy and are conducted in full compliance with the Constitution of Turkmenistan, the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, and generally recognised international norms.
Citizens who will go to the polls on the 29th of March to cast their votes for the most worthy candidates are confident that their elected representatives will make a worthy contribution to the implementation of the large-scale socioeconomic reforms initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Hero-Arkadag, and successfully implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as well as to the consistent democratisation of society.
