DUSHANBE, September 5, Asia-Plus – The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) considers the possibility of fielding its own candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
The APT deputy head, Rustam Latipov, says that according to preliminary estimates, they need more than 100,000 Somonis (equivalent to some US$30,000) to support carrying out election campaign of its candidate.
“For example, expenses on travel from Dushanbe to northern Tajikistan comes to more than US$100 for one person plus expenses on agitation materials and so forth,” said Mr. Latipov, “I am not supporter of wastefulness but 3,600 Somonis stipulated by the government for one candidate are not enough for supporting candidate in such an important political event.”
The APT deputy head has noted that the upcoming congress of the party will determine a mechanism of the party’s participation in the presidential election. “At present we are considering the possibility of fielding our own candidate in the election, but we consider that it is unreal to collect the 160,000 signatures needed for registration of candidate,” the Asia-Plus interlocutor stressed. “However, if we decided to field our own candidate in the election, we will make every effort to collect the signatures necessary for the registration of candidate.”
Asked about measures needed to ensure the presidential election is fair and transparent, Latipov said that there were needed two main conditions: providing non-interference of local authorities in the work of electoral commission and including representatives from all political parties to memberships of electoral commissions of all levels.
