DUSHANBE, April 9, Asia-Plus – The Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) has endorsed a bill requiring the appointment of the Academy’s president by the head of state. Under changes made to the law, the head of state will appoint and relieve the President of the Academy of Sciences and submit edicts concerning the appointment and relieving of the Academy’s president for confirmation to a general meeting of the Academy of Sciences.
A regular sitting of the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (MN) of the third convocation presided over by its speaker Saydullo Khairulloyev was held on April 9.
Dodikhudo Saymuddinov, the head of the MN Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Policy, presenting the bill “On Changes to the RT Law “On the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan” justified the amendments by saying, “Although the Academy of Sciences is both state-run and self-governing institution, but it is state-run rather than self-governing.”
In the meantime, Shodi Shabdolov, member of the MN Committee on Energy, Industry, and Construction, addressing the session questioned the bill expediency and suggested that the bill should be reviewed in details. He noted that the Academy general meeting could not agree with president’s edict to relieve the incumbent head of the Academy.
Zarif Aliyev, President’s Representative to Parliament, noted that proposal on the appointment and relieving of the Academy of Sciences’ president had come from the Academy itself.
The session seconded the bill by the majority of votes.
It is to be noted that the incumbent head of the Academy of Sciences was appointed by the president. The president on February 3, 2005, appointed Mamadsho Ilolov acting President of the Academy of Sciences and later, the Academy’s general meeting confirmed that edict.
The session also endorsed amendments to the RT Constitutional Law “On the Majlisi Oli (Tajik parliament)” requiring the Majlisi Namoyandagon speaker’s having the right to make decisions and resolutions. Before that, only the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) head had such powers.
Parliamentarians also considered and approved amendments to the laws on elections to the Majlisi Oli and elections to local legislatures in order to bring them into compliance with the new structure of bodies of the executive powers.