DUSHANBE, January 16, 2014, Asia-Plus — MPs Muhiddin Kabiri and Saidumar Husaini, who represent the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) in Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandgon) of parliament, have proposed amendments to the Constitutional Law “On Elections to the Majlisi Oli (Tajik Parliament).”
“The amendments are aimed at, first of all, making the election process more democratic and transparent,” MP Husaini, who is also deputy head of the IRP, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“Under the current election legislation candidates must have held residency in Tajikistan for at least five years. We consider that it is necessary to abolish this qualification,” Husaini noted.
The IRP also offers to extend the period of nomination of candidates from 45 to 60 days before the election day.
“Political parties have the right to nominate their candidates to the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER). In line with legal provisions, members of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) are appointed by the parliament on the proposal of the president. We propose that the president should take into consideration opinions of political parties when proposing candidates to the CCER” IRP deputy head said.
According to him, they also propose to establish legal provision for political party representation in precinct election commissions (PECs) and obligate PECs to submit authenticated protocol copies to observers immediately after counting of votes.
We will recall that IRP MPs proposed amendments to the Constitutional Law “On Election of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan” in 2012 and 2013 but their colleagues did not support those amendments.
Founded in October 1990, the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan was registered on December 4, 1991. It was banned by the Supreme Court in June 1993 and legalized in August 1999. Its official newspaper is
Najot
(Salvation). According to some sources, IRP now has more than 40,000 members. It won two seats in the 2010 parliamentary elections. The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan is the only Islamic party registered in CIS Central Asia.
