Announcement came in the wake of the 30 April adoption of a new Constitution based on a nationwide referendum.
In a significant development in Uzbekistan, its current President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has called for an early poll three and a half years before the end of his term. The announcement came in the wake of the 30 April adoption of a new constitution based on a nationwide referendum. Uzbekistan is counted as among one of India’s closest allies in the region.
As per the decree signed by Mirziyoyev, the election of the President of Uzbekistan will be held on 9 July. The election campaign will start on 10 May.
According to Mirziyoyev, the full implementation of the new norms defined in the adopted Constitution requires the continuation of reforms with renewed power and enthusiasm. “In accordance with the updated Basic Law, all the links of power are being reformed, the relations and the balance between them are seriously changing. Also, the updated Constitution poses urgent, new political and socio-economic challenges to the President, parliament, government, ministers and khokims (governors of the regions),” Mirziyoyev said while responding to media queries on being asked about the necessity of holding an early presidential election despite three and a half years of the presidential term remaining.
The president, who came to power in 2016 following the death of his predecessor Islam Karimov, has promised significant social and legal protections. The President said, “The people expect us to make very important and urgent changes and reforms in all areas. This is most clearly evidenced by the fact that at the Constitutional referendum on adopting the Constitution in a new edition, 90.21% of the citizens voted ‘yes’.”
Millions of Uzbek citizens actively participated in the nationwide discussions on the draft Constitution, at multiple stages before its adoption. The referendum’s result was announced on 30 April. Bakhrom Kuchkarov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission informed that the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat”, the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan, the Democratic Party Uzbekistan “MilliyTiklanish” submitted documents with a request for admission to participating in the early Presidential elections.
The Constitution adopted for the first time at the referendum held on 30 April laid the political and legal foundations for implementing the new Development Strategy of Uzbekistan, defining the priorities for further strengthening of the state and society at a historically important stage in developing national statehood.
Ahead of the elections, the President of Uzbekistan will participate in the SCO Summit under India’s Presidency that will be held on 4 July through virtual format.