DUSHANBE, September 25, Asia-Plus — Incumbent President Emomali Rahmonov has decided to seek a third term.
Delegates of the ninth congress of the PDPT held at the Kokhi Borbad Complex in Dushanbe on September 23 unanimously supported the candidacy of the incumbent president.
1,892 of 1,904 delegates elected from all regions of the country took part in the congress’ work.
Rahmonov expressed gratitude to the delegates and accepted the nomination.
The People”s Democratic Party of Tajikistan, led by Rahmonov, is the biggest political party in Tajikistan. From 2000 until 2005, the PDPT had a 65-percent majority in parliament, while at present it holds almost 80 percent of the seats in parliament.
Rahmonov has ruled Tajikistan since 1992, first as chairman of the Supreme Council and then as president. His term expires on November 6, seven years after his last election as head of state in Tajikistan.
Rahmonov was first elected as president in 1994, for a term of five years. A national referendum in September 1999 extended the president’s term to seven years. In November 1999, Rahmonov was reelected to a second term. In June 2003, another referendum amended the Constitution to authorize the president to hold office for a further two seven-year terms.
Under the law each political party has to collect the signatures of 5 percent of the total number of registered voters for its candidate to be considered for the ballot.
