The Socialist Party of Tajikistan (SPT) held its extraordinary congress in Dushanbe on August 22.
“50 delegates participated in the congress that discussed the party’s election program and nominated its candidate for president.
SPT leader Abduhalim Ghafforov was elected as candidate for president.
In the two previous presidential elections, Ghafforov garnered 2.8 and 1.5 percent of the vote respectively.
Recall, Tajikistan's parliament has set October 11 as the date for the country's next presidential election. The resolution on the election date was approved on August 6 during a joint session of both chamber of parliament.
Founded in 1993, the Socialist Party of Tajikistan was registered on August 6, 1996. The party is divided in two factions: the pro-government faction led by Abduhalim Ghafforov and the faction led by Mirhusein Narziyev that is not recognized. Narziyev-led faction has practically broken up.
The party's founder, Safarali Kenjayev, was assassinated in Dushanbe in late March 1999 and the party has not been able to regroup since Kenjayev's death.
According to some source, the Socialist Party of Tajikistan now has 21,600 members.
