DUSHANBE, November 5, 2014, Asia-Plus — President Emomali Rahmon has ordered to ensure holding of transparent parliamentary elections in Tajikistan in February 2015.
He made this remark on November 5 while addressing a ceremonial meeting, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the adoption of Tajikistan’s post-Soviet Constitution on November 6, 1994.
Members of the government and the parliament, public figures, war and labor veterans and representatives of media attended the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, the president noted that all necessary conditions had been created in the country to hold that political event at high level.
Rahmon, in particular, stressed that 50-percent reduction in an electoral deposit would allow many prospective candidates to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
We will recall that the law requiring amendments to the country’s election legislation that was passed by the parliament on February 25 this year, in particular, provides for reducing the electoral deposit required from each candidate from 8,000 somoni to 4,000 somoni.
“We have always stated that we are supporters of democratic, free and transparent elections to the parliament,” Rahmon noted.
He further called on all citizens and all political parties that will participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections to act within the limits of the country’s Constitution and laws.
The president also ordered relevant government bodies to take adequate measures to ensure transparency of the parliamentary elections.
The Constitution of Tajikistan adopted on November 6, 1994 and amended by referendum on September 26, 1999 and June 22, 2003 is the supreme law of the Republic of Tajikistan (Article 10). Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan in 1999 established a new bicameral parliament (Article 48) and extended the President”s term of office from five to seven years (Article 65). The Constitution declares ideological and political pluralism, ensuring human rights and social-legal guarantees.
