DUSHANBE, February 25, 2014, Asia-Plus – Deputies of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament have endorsed the bill proving for amendments to the country’s law “On Elections to the Majlisi Oli (Parliament) of Tajikistan.” The bill has been worked out by Mahmadali Vatanov, the head of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Legislation and Human Rights.
A regular sitting of the fifth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation was held on February 25.
Speaking at the session, MP Vatanov said that the bill, in particular, provided for extending party lists from 30 to 45 percent. Vatanov noted that it did not mean that the number of deputies elected from party list would increase from 22 to 28. According to him, extension of the party lists gives political parties an opportunity to nominate more candidates and have more reserve to replace retiring deputies elected from the party lists.
The amendments also provide for regulation of the process of voting for Tajik citizens residing abroad. Polling stations established abroad will be headed by heads of Tajikistan’s representative offices in those countries. Besides, under the current election legislation, only 30 to 3,000 people can vote at a polling station. The amendments provide for cancelling this requirement for polling stations set up for Tajik citizens residing abroad. More people can vote at those polling stations.
The amendments also provide for reducing the electoral deposit required from each candidate from 8,000 somoni to 4,000 somoni and increasing air time for candidates.
Vatanov noted that they had taken into consideration recommendations of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) while working out the amendments.
