President’s Election in Uzbekistan — basis of a prosperous future of the country and the people
New Delhi, Feb 18 Uzbekistan, a principal country in Central Asia, will hold its Presidential elections on March 29 this year and the country has set in motion a set of irreversible economic and political reforms that will ensure that the country progresses economically and democratically guaranteeing every citizen the right of participation in every sphere.
Against this background one should view the election campaign of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan which has entered a critical stage – after the registration of candidates for President of the CEC of Uzbekistan began campaigning. The chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov opens upto DiplomacyIndia on what is in store for the country in the days ahead.
The uzbek Constitution stipulates that its President is the head of state and ensures the coordinated functioning and interaction of bodies of state power, as well as the guarantor of the rights and freedom of citizens, the Constitution and laws of the country. Abdusalomov says that the election of the President is the most important socio-political event in the modern history of Uzbekistan since its independence.
After this activity, the political maturity of all the participants, ultimately rests, on the decision to take the voters, the future of the country and its further development forward.
The democratic principles of transparency, openness and fairness are being observed in this important. And for this purpose in Uzbekistan all necessary conditions have been created, observes Abdusalomov.
The CEC observed that the election – is an essential factor in a democratic state with a strong civil society. They are the main form of people’s expression and its direct involvement in politics, government and public administration, the formation of the government.
Therefore, meeting democracy’s requirements and its conditions of dynamic development of the electoral system to ensure free and active participation of citizens, political parties in the electoral processes, reliable guarantees of full implementation of the voting rights, have become one of the key priorities of policy of renewal and modernization of the country, the CEC said.
The uzbek model of reforms is irreversible at the economic and democratic level. Their effectiveness is due, primarily, to its evolutionary aspect since its independence. Step by step, consistently implemented also is in the field of forming a democratic electoral system, which ensured its strength, stability.
We reproduce here the answers given by the CEC of Uzbekistan to a local correspondent on primary issues facing the country:
What is the peculiarity of the current election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan ?
– The election campaign in 2015 for the election of the President of Uzbekistan goes into a qualitatively new socio-political and socio-economic conditions, significantly increased inter-party competition, political and civic activity of the population.
In the implementation of large-scale reforms, Uzbekistan has achieved great success in democratization and liberalization of the political, economic and humanitarian spheres. Main achievements of Uzbekistan primarily include the strengthening of the country’s peace, tranquility and civil harmony, sustainable economic growth, constant improvement of well-being, the quality of life of the population. It is crucial that simultaneously pursues a consistent reforms aimed at the formation and development of a civil society.
As the most important factor and the source of these positive changes have become fundamental changes in the consciousness and thinking of people, their beliefs, the growth of a sense of belonging to what is happening around, civic duty and personal responsibility for tomorrow, the fate of their country.
Clear confirmation of the increased level of political activity, legal and political culture of the population was the election of 2014 in the Oliy Majlis, regional, district and city councils of people’s deputies. Their results demonstrated a commitment of Uzbekistan and people to the building of a democratic state, where the main objective is to ensure the interests, rights and freedoms of a human, the rule of law, equality before it for all citizens.
At the same time, the parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan showed how increased rigor and strictness of citizens in the assessment of the socio-political and socio-economic reforms, participation in this process of political parties, their practices as well as policy guidelines for the future.
In turn, this has required all parties who have decided to participate in the presidential elections, not only to increase their activity in the election campaign, but also – and above all – to raise to a higher political level of its work, the election programs put forward their presidential candidates.
What is the legal basis for the elections of the President of Uzbekistan, guaranteeing their implementation in full compliance with the principles of democracy ?
– Of course, the basic document for the operation of the national electoral system, as well as democratic development in all other spheres of our society, is the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Basic Law, in particular, provides that the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is elected by the citizens of the country on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. In addition, since independence formed a package of laws regulating the entire process of presidential elections. First of all, the laws “On elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, “On guarantees of electoral rights of citizens”, “On the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, as well as a number of other legislative acts.
The basis of the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan put the key, universally recognized democratic principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international instruments ratified by Uzbekistan.
Crucial to the vitality, efficiency adopted in the country of election laws is the fact that the international democratic standards have been incorporated into them automatically, and are implemented with the culture and traditions of our people and accumulated over the years of independence of the national experience of building a democratic state of law and society.
In this regard, its possible to bring a fact – independent foreign experts believe that today the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan in terms of democracy superior to election laws of many developed countries.
All legislative acts adopted in Uzbekistan in this area focus on the strict observance of electoral rights of citizens on the basis of the principles of fairness, transparency, openness and transparency, the creation of the necessary conditions for voters to participate freely in the elections and political parties put forward their candidates for the presidency of Uzbekistan – the broad and equal opportunities during the election campaign.
The most important feature of the national electoral system is legally fixed system of independent election commission, headed by the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan, which provide the organization and conduct of elections in accordance with the requirements of the law and subordinate only to the law.
What changes were made to the electoral legislation in recent years ?
– The rapid pace of modernization and renovation of Uzbekistan and society have caused the need for continued improvement of national legislation, including the election. Appropriate tasks were set in adopted by the Oliy Majlis of the Uzbekistan in 2010 the Concept of further deepening democratic reforms and formation of civil society in the country.
Key importance had defined in this policy document measures to strengthen the democratization of state power and administration, strengthening multi-party system. To this end, the Constitution of Uzbekistan was introduced a number of amendments aimed at further improving the system of checks and balances between branches of government.
In addition, the electoral law was amended and supplements for a more complete implementation of the principle of freedom of choice, enhance the effectiveness of equal conditions for political parties nominated their candidates during election campaigning, improving the legal mechanisms to ensure transparency in the elections.
In accordance with the amendment to Article 117 of the Constitution of Uzbekistan, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan – first in the world – has the status of a constitutional body, has a special place in the government, which provides preparation and conduct of elections without any interference by other authorities. CEC of Uzbekistan granted exclusive authority in this matter. The main principles of the Commission determined by an independent, legality, collegiality, openness and fairness. This has strengthened safeguards to ensure the free expression of the voters, democratic elections.
It should be noted that the activities of election commissions at all levels and all activities at each stage of the electoral process clearly defined by law, as well as programs substantive preparations for and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, developed by the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan based on the requirements of the legislation.
The program, subject to certain problems in the electoral law on the preparation and holding of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, basis of a clear time schedule painted all the relevant activities, as well as those responsible for these structures. This makes it possible to organize a campaign on a high democratic level, provide the necessary conditions for effective work of district and precinct election commissions and for the full implementation of the electoral rights of participants in the electoral process – the political parties nominated their candidates for the Presidency of Uzbekistan the voters directly.
CEC of Uzbekistan within the borders of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and Tashkent city established 14 electoral districts for the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, formed the district election commissions, and they, in turn, established 9058 polling stations and precinct election commissions are formed. The commissions of both levels based on the recommendations of local Councils of People’s Deputies includes respected members of the public. 44 polling stations established at the offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign countries.
In accordance with national legislation, the right to nominate candidates for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have only political party. All the four political parties operating in the country submitted to the Central Election Commission the necessary documents and were allowed to participate in the elections. These are – People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milly Tiklanish”, Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and the Social Democratic Party “Adolat”.
Presidential nomination was made supreme bodies of political parties – the congress or kurultai. Then were gathered petitions in support of candidates. By law, the subscription lists presented by each political party had to contain signatures of at least five per cent of the total number of voters in the country, representing not less than eight administrative-territorial formations. In one of the administrative-territorial entity – the Republic of Karakalpakstan, region, city Tashkent – a political party can not collect more than eight percent of the signatures of the total.
Signature sheets together with the necessary documents were submitted by political parties Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan for registration of candidates. In the seven-day period set by the CEC of Uzbekistan checked the submitted documents and gave their opinion on compliance. The accuracy of the subscription lists checked formed CEC of Uzbekistan working groups.
February 14, 2015, meeting of the Central Election Commission, which adopted the decision on the registration of candidates for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of the election campaign of candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan during the election campaign.
– The beginning, in fact, one of the most important stages of the election campaign – election campaign…
– The election campaign is a systematic process consisting of interrelated stages. Among them, a crucial role is played by campaigning, which in all democracies, including in Uzbekistan, is emphasized. It enables candidates to familiarize voters with their election programs.
According to the Law “On Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” presidential candidates, political parties have equal rights to use the media during the election campaign.
Resolution of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan in order to ensure a level playing field during the election campaign presidential candidates for performances with its future work program provided for 900 minutes of airtime on the channels of the National TV and Radio Company “Uzbekistan” and “Yoshlar” and the same printed area – 10 strips in newspapers “Xalq So’zi “,” Narodnoye Slovo “and” Pravda Vostoka”.
Presidential candidate law also granted an equal right to hold meetings with voters. Each candidate is entitled to have up to 15 agents, who help him the election campaign, campaign for his election and represent their interests in various organizations.