First sessions of newly elected legislatures (Majlises) will take place in Dushanbe and Khujand, the capital of the northern province of Sughd, tomorrow.
“The sessions will endorse powers of newly elected members of local councils and nominate their candidates for the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament),” an official source at the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), Khatlon province and districts subordinate to the center have not yet set dates for their sessions.
The Majlisi Milli is the upper chamber of the Tajik parliament with 33 members. Three-fourths of the total number of members of the Majlisi Milli is elected at joint meetings of people’s deputies of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region and its towns and districts, regions and their towns and districts, Dushanbe city and its districts, towns and districts subordinate to the center, on the basis of indirect elections by means of secret ballot. The Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region, regions, Dushanbe City, towns and districts subordinate to the center have an equal number of representatives in the Majlisi Milli (five each).
One-fourths of the members of the Majlisi Milli are appointed by the President. Besides, each former President of the Republic of Tajikistan shall be the life member of the Majlisi Milli, if he doesn’t refuse to use this right.
The Majlisi Milli effectuates its work in the form of a Session. A Session of the Majlisi Milli is convoked by the Chairman of the Majlisi Milli not less than twice a year.
