DUSHANBE, December 4, 2014, Asia-Plus — A conference of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s organization for Dushanbe took place on December 3.
Usmon Soliyev, the head of the PDP public relations department, says 166 members of the PDP, including Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev and Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament) Speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov, were elected as delegates of the 12th congress of the party that will take place in Dushanbe on December 13.
Thus, practically the whole political elite of the country – the president, speakers of both chambers of parliament and prime minister – have been elected as delegates of the PDP pre-election congress.
In all, more than 1,200 delegates from all regions of the country are expected to attend the congress.
Founded in 1994, the People’s Democratic Party is the largest political party in Tajikistan, boasting some 250,000 registered members. President Emomali Rahmon is chairman of the party.
At the legislative elections, February 27 and March 13, 2005, the party won 74% of the popular vote and 52 out of 63 seats. This was an increase from the 2000 elections, in which they won 64.9% of the vote and 38 seats. At the last legislative elections, February 28, 2010, the party won 71.69% of the popular vote and 45 out of 63 seats.
