DUSHANBE, January 3, 2014, Asia-Plus — The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) will not hold by-elections to the lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament in order to fill three vacant seats.
“Parliamentary by-elections are held two months after the CCER makes a decision on holding them,” said Abdumannon Dodoyev, the head of CCER’s office. “Even if the Commission makes the decision on holding by-elections today, they will be held on March 3. Meanwhile, under the country’s election legislation, parliamentary by-elections are not held if less than year remains until the next general election. Powers of the current parliament expire on February 28, 2015.”
We will recall that Ms. Marhabo Jabborova, Ms. Makhfirat Khidirova, and Mr. Amirbek Mahmadaliyev resigned from the Majlisi Namoyandagon in connection with transfer to the government. Ms. Jabborova was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Ms. Khidirova was appointed Chairperson of the Committee for Family and Women’s Affairs, and Mr. Mahmadaliyev was appointed to head the Yovon district in the Khatlon province.
The Majlisi Namoyandagon is elected on the basis of universal, free, equal, and direct elections by means of secret ballot. The Majlisi Namoyandagon is the professional and function on a permanent basis. Citizens not younger than 25 years are elected to the Majlisi Namoyandagon. The Majlisi Namoyandagon has 63 members, elected for a five-year term in, 22 by proportional representation and 41 in single-seat constituencies.
