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Uzbekistan’s Parliamentary Elections 2014: A Fair Assessment

Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan

elections_2014

The Parliamentary Elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, regional, district and city Kengashes (Councils) of people’s deputies were held on December 21, 2014. Elections were conducted in free, fair and transparent manners. Elections 2014 met all the international standards relating to electoral system.

Voters and Candidates Active Participation

People/voters were very active and disciplined to vote which showed the highest level of massive political participation at gross-root levels throughout the country. It showed political maturity. It demonstrated their willingness for further strengthening of democratization and politicization process in the country. It also portrayed the true picture of Uzbekistan and its people who take care of humanity, freedom of speech, equality and above all continuation of the political system.

Elections: A Way Forward for the Continuation of Political System

Politics is the art of all possibilities and continuation of a political system and above all holding of elections on regular basis always prove good for the country. It minimizes the chances of any misadventure in the given political system. It guarantees constitutional rights to its people, minorities and of course the decision makers. It honours the collective wisdom of its people. It grants civil liberty and rule of the law to its people. It brightens the chance of socio-economic prosperity of the Motherland. It widens the scope of industrialization. It promotes knowledge-based economy. It encourages women empowerment in the country and the Republic of Uzbekistan is standing at apex of these golden principles of advancement, tolerance, tranquility and vibrant civil society.

Central Elections Commission of Uzbekistan

According to the central elections commission of Uzbekistan in 127 of 135 constituencies created for elections of deputies to the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan by four candidates and in 8 electoral districts by three candidates fought for parliamentary mandate.

According to the central elections commission of Uzbekistan 20.79 million citizens were included in the lists of voters across the country. 18.50 million people or 88.94 percent of the total number of voters participated in the elections.

Karimov saylov

Names of the Political Parties Total Numbers of Seats
Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan 47
The Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milly Tiklanish 28
The People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan 21
The Social Democratic Party “Adolat 17
Source: Central Elections Commission of Uzbekistan (December, 22 2014)

Repeated Voting/Elections

According the results in 22 electoral districts, none of the candidates receives half of the votes due to which in accordance with the legislation in these districts in the period specified by law will be held revote on the two candidates who received a large number of votes. The Central Elections Commission has already announced the date of the repeated elections to be held on January 4, 2015.

In accordance with it, the repeated vote will be held in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Andijan, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Navoi, Samarkand, Syrdarya, Khorezm, Kashkadarya regions and in Tashkent city by one electoral district, in Namangan and Tashkent regions in two electoral districts, in Fergana region three electoral districts, in Surkhandarya region in five constituencies.

Composition of the Elected Deputies (different disciplines)

Representation by Profession Elected Deputies
Jurists/Lawyers 33
Economy/Economists 31
Education/Educationists 26
Manufacturing/Businessmen/Entrepreneurs 21
Health/Doctors 7
Public Organization/Civil Society/former state functionaries 3
People from different spheres 3
Source: The Central Elections Commission, Uzbekistan (December 26, 2014)

The above table clearly shows that the new elected parliament is composed on diversification of disciplines which would be healthy thing for the country.

Composition of the Elected Deputies (different age)

Elected Deputies (Age)/Years Total Elected Deputies
29 6
30-39 39
40-49 44
50 and above 39
Source: The Central Elections Commission, Uzbekistan (December 26, 2014)

The above table indicated that newly elected parliament comprises of youth and experienced deputies. It is the ideal combination of vibrancy, modernization and dynamics.

Composition of the Elected Deputies (education)

Elected Deputies (Age)/Years Total Elected Deputies
43 Academic
6 Master
29 Science
Doctor of Science 8
Source: The Central Elections Commission, Uzbekistan (December 26, 2014)

Representatives of Different Nationalities

There are also representatives of different nationalities among deputies: Uzbek, Karakalpak, Russian, Tajik, Kazakh and Korean which also shows its level of tolerance, interfaith harmony and national consensus for the development of its country and its people. Moreover, 21 of elected 128 deputies are women. 38 were deputies of the previous convocation of the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

Furthermore, in 22 districts, none of the candidates received required for election number of votes. The Central Election Commission adopted a decision approving the Programme of measures on preparation and holding of re-election on January 4, 2015.

Article 45

According to Article 45 of the Law ” elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan” if the electoral district more than two candidates for deputies and none of them has been elected, the district election commission decides to hold a revote in the district between two candidates who received a large number of votes.

Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan

During the elections 2014, the Conference of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan were also held where 15 members of Ecological Movement were elected to the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament by secret ballot from the number of nominated candidates at the conference, who are represented each administrative-territorial unit of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Ecological Movement.

High Levels of Transparency, Free & Fairness

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The elements of transparency, free and fair arrangements were at the highest levels throughout the country. No information of pre or post rigging was reported in the local, regional or international mass media. Availability of all the political parties invigilators (agents), representatives of media, NGOs, and local districts made it a perfect exercise of free will, independent choice and personal preferences to cast their votes on December 21, 2014.

Valuable inputs of Domestic & International Observers

The inputs and feedbacks of the domestic and foreign elections observers have secured the elements of transparency, impartiality and openness of the electoral process. More than 300 observers from 50 countries and five international organizations missions the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Associations of World Election Bodies and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation observed the parliamentary elections 2014.

Vigil Authorized Representatives of Political Parties, NGOs and Media

Furthermore, more than 70,000 observers and authorized representatives of political parties that nominated candidates for deputies also contributed the good things in holding of this elections. In addition, more than 340 representatives of domestic and foreign mass media covered the election. In order to help the local, regional and international media all facilities were provided in the different places.

Publication of Final/Complete Results

The central elections commission, Uzbekistan will publish the results of the elections and the list of the elected deputies of the Legislative Chamber in the press no later than 10 days after the election, i.e., until 31 December.

Parliamentary Elections 2014 and People of Uzbekistan

Parliamentary Elections 2014 to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis and local representative bodies of state power held on December 21, 2014 clearly reflected that people of Uzbekistan love to their political system, civil society, law-governed state which ultimately pave the way towards further deepening of economic reforms aimed to improve the welfare and prosperity of the country in the days to come. It upheld its collective indigenous wisdom, talent, preference and priority. It was the icon of its national solidarity, unity, and harmony.

A transparent, fair and free electoral system is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is a perfect system of people’s will, power sharing and gross-root political participation.

Bicameral Parliament

Uzbekistan has a bicameral parliament which has been functioning in Uzbekistan since 2005. In order to protect the citizens electoral rights for the Oliy Majlis (Parliament), regional, district and city Kengashes of people’s deputies, and on elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan many amendments and addenda have been promulgated in 2003 and 2008 in the constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Gradual Liberalization

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov1

Gradual liberalization has been institutionalized to achieve the desired goals of politicization and democratization process in the country. As a result, a refined legislative base has been formed to secure gradual liberalization of the national electoral system, elections to the bicameral parliament, meeting international norms to a full extent.

Concept of Intensification of Democratic Reforms and Formation of Civil Society

Uzbekistan’s electoral system is based on the “Concept of Intensification of Democratic Reforms and Formation of Civil Society” which was initiated by President Islam Karimov. Different laws have considerably uplifted the role and significance of the Oliy Majlis in the life of the Uzbek society. Furthermore, the introduction of the principle of nominating the prime minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan by the political party that secures the greatest number of deputy seats in the parliament as a result of elections, along with the institution of no-confidence vote to the government has characterized a new phase in the modernization and democratization of the country.

Presidential Elections 2015

The Central Elections Commission of Uzbekistan has also announced the electoral round for Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The CEC adopted a decision to determine 29 March 2015 as the day of elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with Article 117 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Article 2 of the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ensuing Elections to Representative Bodies of Government and of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Article 8 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The CEC meeting participants also approved a program of major events concerning the preparations for and conduct of elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

It was also stressed at the session that all the events related to the preparations for and conduct of elections are carried out by the Central Election Commission and election commissions to be set up, in an open manner and with publicity, in strict adherence to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and laws on elections.

Concluding Remarks

Elections, political system and democracy are the modern trinity of human survival, human rights, freedom of expression, socio-economic prosperity, national production and people’s prosperity and holding regular Parliamentary Elections since its inception The Republic of Uzbekistan is standing at the apex of these golden principles of democracy and delivery.

It is the easiest and smoothest way for power sharing and gross-root participation in Uzbekistan. It provides political stability and economic sustainability. It stands for political wisdom and hope for betterment. It transforms political parties, society, civility, economics, administration and state craftsmanship.

It is the ideal combination of divergences and convergences in any civilized country in the world. From classical Athens walled democracy to modern people free choice exercise, elections have been remained part and parcel of strategic way forward. All the parties contested in good spirits in the Elections 2014.

The active participation of all the political parties and their candidates in modernization of the country through the process of democratization and politicization will pay dividends in the days to come.

There was no hustle and bustle in and out-side the polling stations. Every-thing was completely arranged and up to the any international standard. Voters were disciplined and proactive in casting their votes. I saw a large size of young voters which showed their generational belief in the political system, democratization and further strengthening of palatalization in the country. The first time young voters were entertained with red roses, pens and watches.

Aged people went to vote from early morning. The citizens at large understood the responsibility for the future development of their country. Every polling station had a well decorated children room” and complete “medical unit” which enhanced the levels of human comfort and easiness. Voters (old, disabled, patients) who could not visit polling stations could actually caste their votes at their place of residence or at hospitals because of excellent arrangements and provisions in the electoral system.

“Right from the beginning, The Republic of Uzbekistan has exceled in all fields of collective national survival (socio-economic development, and production (industrialization, rigorous commercial diplomacy, and diversification of economy & resources)”.

“The Parliamentary Elections 2014 would further strengthen the process of democratization and politicization in the country”. It means Uzbekistan country has chosen the right way of national development.”

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