
New Delhi, June 17 : Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has called for an early election, three and a half years before the end of his term, a statement said on Saturday.
The announcement came in the wake of the historic April 30, adoption of a new Constitution based on a nationwide referendum. Mirziyoyev signed the decree to hold early Presidential elections in the country, on July 9, it said.
According to the President, the full implementation of the new norms defined in the adopted Constitution requires the continuation of reforms with renewed power and enthusiasm.
On being asked about the necessity of holding an early presidential election and the reasons for voluntarily giving up the remaining three and a half years of his term, the President said, “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, who came to power in 2016 following the death of his predecessor Islam Karimov, has promised more significant social and legal protections.
“After all, our Basic Law stipulates that the people are the sole source of state power. From this point of view, it is quite natural that in the system of the renewed state power our people, I repeat, only the people will elect the leader they trust,” he said.
The President also showed his confidence in the political parties and presidential candidates putting forward new ideas and initiatives during the election campaign which will help in prevailing peace and prosperity in the country and assist in the welfare of the people.
The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan considered the issue of admitting political parties to participate in the Presidential elections, the release said.
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 elections, it said.
In accordance with the electoral legislation, the Central Election Commission reviewed the documents, after which these parties were allowed to participate in the early elections of the President of Uzbekistan, it added.
The Presidential election campaign in Uzbekistan started on May 10, the statement said.