DUSHANBE, December 9, 2015, Asia-Plus – Deputies of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament have unanimously voted for endorsement of a bill designating the incumbent President Emomali Rahmon the “leader of the nation.”
A regular sitting of the second session of Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fifth convocation, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on December 9.
The bill titled “On Initiator of Peace and Accord – Leader of the Nation” was worked out by a group of deputies of Majlisi Namoyandagon.
Speaking at the meeting before the voting, Majlisi Namoyandagon Speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov said he would vote for the adoption of the law “at the call of the heart, conscience and civic duty, taking into account outstanding services of President Rahmon to the Homeland and the people.”
“There is no need to praise Emomali Rahmon; it has been proved long ago that he is defender of the national interests of the country, its people, and God gave him a talent to be leader,” Zuhurov stated.
Parliament speaker stressed that adoption of similar laws in the United States, India, Turkey, Pakistan,, Indonesia and Kazakhstan has not restricted democracy and freedom; “on contrary, this has promoted unification of peoples of these countries.”
Speaking at the session MP Abdurahim Kholiqzoda, who is one of the authors of the bill, noted that “the law determines powers of the Leader, gives him immunity, and stipulates that he will be provided with transport, dwelling and social benefits after leaving the presidency.”
He stressed that the law gives Rahmon the right to appeal to the nation and participate in important government events and address them after leaving the presidency.
There was little doubt that the bill will not be endorsed since 51 of 63 seats in Majlisi Namoyandagon are held by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Meanwhile, some experts in Tajikistan consider that granting the status of leader of the nation to the incumbent President Emomali Rahmon is aimed at doing away with the legalities technically limiting his right to seek reelection in perpetuity.
The President of the Republic of Tajikistan is elected by national vote for the seven-year term. President Emomali Rahmon won a third term in office in November 2006 by capturing more than 79% of the total vote.
Tajikistan held a constitutional referendum on June 22, 2003 and the 2003 Constitution, among other amendments, set a limit of two seven-year terms for the president. Emomali Rahmon’s election to the office of the president in 2006 counts as his first 7-year term under the 2003 Constitution, and in principle he may be re-elected for a second term in 2013, remaining in office until 2020.
It is to be noted that Tajikistan’s law on the leader of the nation is not the first such a law in Central Asia.
The Kazakh parliament on June 15, 2010 passed the law granting President Nursultan Nazarbayev the right to shape policy after retirement and immunity from prosecution and he was declared Kazakhstan”s Leader of the Nation. The law reportedly gives Nazarbayev control over government policy after leaving the presidency as well as immunity from criminal prosecution for any actions taken while in office. It also protects all assets of the president and his family.
In mid-January 2011, Kazakh parliament voted in favor of holding a referendum to keep Nazarbayev in office until 2020, citing issues of stability and continuity. But there were only two options being debated: 2020, or simply declaring Nazarbayev president-for-life. Nazarbayev rejected the proposal, but announced that, true to form, there would be another early presidential election on April 3, 2011.
