DUSHANBE, November 24, 2014, Asia-Plus — “The Communist Party (CPT) candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections will pay electoral deposits themselves,” the CPT deputy leader Ismoil Talbakov, who is also deputy of Tajikistan’ lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, serious financial problems facing the party are the main reason for making such a decision.
Electoral deposit of 4,000 somoni is required from each candidate for the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).
The Majlisi Namoyandagon on February 25 this year passed the law requiring amendments to the country’s law “On Elections to the Majlisi Oli of Tajikistan.” The law, in particular, provides for reducing the electoral deposit required from each candidate from 8,000 somoni to 4,000 somoni.
The CPT insists on abolishing electoral deposit, including representatives of political parties in Precinct Election Commission (PECs) and partially financing political parties in the future.
Talbakov further added that the work on their pre-election program is nearing completion.
“The congress that will take place in Dushanbe on December 27 will determine a party list of candidates for the 2015 parliamentary elections and party’s representatives that will run in single-mandate constituencies elect candidates,” Talbakov said, noting that the CPT will include 10 candidates in the party list and seven their candidates will run in single-mandate constituencies.
Founded in 1918, the Communist Party of Tajikistan was registered in 1991. According to some sources, the party now has more than 45,000 members. Shodi Shabdolov is leader of the party.
Tajikistan’s Parliament (Majlisi Oli) has two chambers: the Assembly of Representatives (Majlisi Namoyandagon) and the National Assembly (Majlisi Milli). Majlisi Namoyandagon has 63 members, elected for a five-year term in, 22 by proportional representation and 41 in single-seat constituencies. Majlisi Milli has 33 members, 25 elected for a five-year term by local majlis members and eight appointed by the president.
