DUSHANBE, September 2, 2009, Asia-Plus — The government has passed a negative resolution on a bill on elections to the Majlisi Oli (Tajikistan’s parliament) and we cannot agree with this resolution, deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) also Communist leader Shodi Shabdolov, who authored the bill, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
“In our draft parliamentary election legislation, we offer the elimination of the fee of some 3,500 U.S. dollars needed to run for political office in the country and suggest that members of the electoral commissions should be elected,” said MP, “We also propose to reduce the threshold percentage required for political parties to enter parliament from 5 to 3 percent. Unfortunately, the government has not supported the draft law.”
According to him, the government’s resolution has been sent to the lower house of the parliament and the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on State Construction and Local Government should consider it. “As I know from parliamentary practice, the draft law will scarcely be supported by the committee after such a resolution passed by the government,” Shabdolov said.
He added that the initiative group that had worked out the bill would require consideration of it at the session, “let all MPs will express their opinions on the bill and we are ready for discussion,” Shabdolov said.
Representatives from the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Sate Construction and Local Government have refused from commenting on the statement by Shodi Shabdolov, just noting that the draft law is still under consideration.
It is to be noted that many Tajik political parties are calling for the elimination of the registered fee imposed by the parliamentary elections code on individuals seeking to contest the election. We will recall that Social-Democratic Party (SDPT) leader Rahmatillo Zoirov told reporters in Dushanbe on February 13, 2009 that “the fee — 5,000 somoni, or some $1,300 — is unconstitutional because the money is not returned after the election.” In the meantime, proponents of the fee say it is necessary to prevent irresponsible candidates from being elected to parliament.
