DUSHANBE, December 31, 2009, Asia-Plus — A process of nomination of candidates to run in elections for parliament in singe-mandate constituencies began in Tajikistan on December 30.
Muhibullo Dodojonov, an official with the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER), told Asia-Plus today that 41 single-mandate constituencies were established in the country for elections to parliament that will take place on February 28, 2010.
We will recall that that all eight officially registered political parties of Tajikistan held their pre-election congresses last week and determined candidates that will run in elections through a proportional party list system from a single, countrywide constituency.
The Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) has 63 members, who are directly elected for a period of 5 years. 22 are elected through a proportional, party list system from a single, countrywide constituency. To win seats, parties must pass a five percent threshold. The remaining 41 members are elected from single-mandate constituencies under a majoritarian system. In the single mandate constituencies, candidates must win an absolute majority of votes to be elected. If none of the contestants manages to win an absolute majority during the first round, a second round of voting is held between the two leading candidates two weeks later. For any of the elections to be valid, there must be at least a 50% voter turnout.
