DUSHANBE, December 12, 2014, Asia-Plus — 10 million somoni (equivalent to some 1.9 million U.S. dollars) have reportedly been allocated for holding the 2015 parliamentary elections that will take place on March 1, 2015.
Abdumannon Dodozoda, the head of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER)’s office, says this amount will be spent for producing ballot papers and agitation materials as well as equipping of district election commissions (DECs) and precinct election commissions (PECs).
“Besides, the officially registered candidates from all political parties will receive a certain amount of money each to carry out their election campaigns,” Dodozoda said. He did not say how much money the candidates will receive, noting that that issue will be solved at the CEER meeting in the near future.
Meanwhile, the head of the CCER’s office noted at a meeting with representatives of political parties on December 11 that all parliamentary candidates and political parties wanting to participate in the upcoming elections must open temporary and special deposit accounts at Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) or its branches.
A total volume of funds spent by a parliamentary candidate running in a single-mandate constituency should not exceed 60,000 somoni.
Spending by political parties on one candidates included in the party list (proportional representation) should not exceed 20,000 somoni. Meanwhile, a total election campaign spending by political parties should not exceed 120,000 somoni.
“Donations by physical entities to candidate for the parliament should not exceed 2,000 somoni and donations by physical entities to political parties should not exceed 4,000 somoni,” said Dodozoda. “Donations by legal entities should exceed 4,000 somoni for candidates and 20,000 somoni for political parties.”
Tajikistan’s legislation prohibits foreign state and individual contributions in elections. The country’s legislation also prohibits contributions in elections from Tajik nationals who have not reached the age of 18, legal entities dealing with overseas shares, international organizations, local authorities, government agencies, organizations in which the government owns more than 30 percent, law enforcement and power-wielding structures, religious organization and unknown persons.
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 legislature (majlis) members and eight appointed by the president.
