Uzbekistan’s Parliamentary Elections 2014

The Parliamentary Elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, regional, district and city Kengashes (Councils) of people’s deputies were held on December 21, 2014. These were conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner and met all the international standards relating to electoral system.

Voters and Candidates Active Participation
People/voters were very active and disciplined while voting which showed the highest level of political participation at gross-root levels throughout the country. It showed political maturity and demonstrated the people’s willingness for further strengthening of democratization and politicization process in the country. It also portrayed the true picture of Uzbekistan and its people who have faith in humanity, freedom of speech, equality and above all continuation of the political system.

Elections: A Way for the Continuation of Political System
Politics is the art of all possibilities and continuation of a political system and above all holding of elections on regular basis always prove good for the country. It minimizes the chances of any misadventure in the given political system. It guarantees constitutional rights to its people, minorities and of course the decision makers. It honours the collective wisdom of its people. It grants civil liberty and rule of the law to its people. It brightens the chance of socio-economic prosperity of the Motherland. It widens the scope of industrialization. It promotes knowledge-based economy. It encourages women empowerment in the country and the Republic of Uzbekistan is standing at apex of these golden principles of advancement, tolerance, tranquility and vibrant civil society.

Central Elections Commission of Uzbekistan
According to the central elections commission of Uzbekistan in 127 of 135 constituencies created for elections of deputies to the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan by four candidates and in 8 electoral districts by three candidates fought for parliamentary mandate.

According to the central elections commission of Uzbekistan 20.79 million citizens were included in the lists of voters across the country. 18.50 million people or 88.94 percent of the total number of voters participated in the elections.

Repeated Voting/Elections
According the results in 22 electoral districts, none of the candidates receives half of the votes due to which in accordance with the legislation in these districts in the period specified by law will be held revote on the two candidates who received a large number of votes. The Central Elections Commission has already announced the date of the repeated elections to be held on January 4, 2015. These will be held in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Andijan, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Navoi, Samarkand, Syrdarya, Khorezm, Kashkadarya regions and in Tashkent city by one electoral district, in Namangan and Tashkent regions in two electoral districts, in Fergana region three electoral districts, in Surkhandarya region in five constituencies.

The table 1 clearly shows that the new elected parliament is composed on diversification of disciplines which would be healthy thing for the country.

Composition of the Elected Deputies (different disciplines) Table 1

The table 2 indicated that newly elected parliament comprises of youth and experienced deputies. It is the ideal combination of vibrancy, modernization and dynamics.

Composition of the Elected Deputies (different age) Table 2

Representatives of Different Nationalities
There are also representatives of different nationalities among deputies: Uzbek, Karakalpak, Russian, Tajik, Kazakh and Korean which also shows its level of tolerance, interfaith harmony and national consensus for the development of its country and its people. Moreover, 21 of elected 128 deputies are women. 38 were deputies of the previous convocation of the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

Furthermore, in 22 districts, none of the candidates received required for election number of votes. The Central Election Commission adopted a decision approving the Programme of measures on preparation and holding of re-election on January 4, 2015.

Article 45
According to Article 45 of the Law “elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan” if the electoral district more than two candidates for deputies and none of them has been elected, the district election commission decides to hold a revote in the district between two candidates who received a large number of votes.

Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan
During the elections the Conference of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan was also held where 15 members of Ecological Movement were elected to the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament by secret ballot from the number of nominated candidates at the conference, who are represented each administrative-territorial unit of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Ecological Movement.

High Levels of Transparency, Free & Fairness
The elements of transparency, free and fair arrangements were at the highest levels throughout the country. No information of pre or post rigging was reported in the local, regional or international mass media. Availability invigilators (agents) of all the political parties, representatives of media, NGOs, and local districts made it a perfect exercise of free will, independent choice and personal preferences for the vote on December 21, 2014.

Valuable inputs of Domestic & International Observers
The inputs and feedbacks of the domestic and foreign elections observers have secured the elements of transparency, impartiality and openness of the electoral process. More than 300 observers from 50 countries and five international organizations missions the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Associations of World Election Bodies and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation observed the parliamentary elections 2014.

Vigilance Authorized Representatives of Political Parties, NGOs and Media
Furthermore, more than 70,000 observers and authorized representatives of political parties that nominated candidates for deputies also contributed the good things in holding of this elections. In addition, more than 340 representatives of domestic and foreign mass media covered the election. In order to help the local, regional and international media all facilities were provided in the different places.

Composition of the Elected Deputies (education)

Publication of Final/Complete Results
The central elections commission, Uzbekistan will publish the results of the elections and the list of the elected deputies of the Legislative Chamber in the press no later than 10 days after the election, i.e., until 31 December.

Parliamentary Elections 2014 and People of Uzbekistan
Parliamentary Elections 2014 to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis and local representative bodies of state power held on December 21, 2014 clearly reflected that people of Uzbekistan love to their political system, civil society, law-governed state which ultimately pave the way towards further deepening of economic reforms aimed to improve the welfare and prosperity of the country in the days to come. It upheld its collective indigenous wisdom, talent, preference and priority. It was the icon of its national solidarity, unity, and harmony.

A transparent, fair and free electoral system is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is a perfect system of people’s will, power sharing and gross-root political participation.

Bicameral Parliament
Uzbekistan has a bicameral parliament which has been functioning in Uzbekistan since 2005. In order to protect the citizens electoral rights for the Oliy Majlis (Parliament), regional, district and city Kengashes of people’s deputies, and on elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan many amendments and addenda have been promulgated in 2003 and 2008 in the constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Gradual Liberalization
Gradual liberalization has been institutionalized to achieve the desired goals of politicization and democratization process in the country. As a result, a refined legislative base has been formed to secure gradual liberalization of the national electoral system, elections to the bicameral parliament, meeting international norms to a full extent.

Concept of Intensification of Democratic Reforms and Formation of Civil Society
Uzbekistan’s electoral system is based on the “Concept of Intensification of Democratic Reforms and Formation of Civil Society” which was initiated by President Islam Karimov. Different laws have considerably uplifted the role and significance of the Oliy Majlis in the life of the Uzbek society. Furthermore, the introduction of the principle of nominating the prime minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan by the political party that secures the greatest number of deputy seats in the parliament as a result of elections, along with the institution of no-confidence vote to the government has characterized a new phase in the modernization and democratization of the country.

Presidential Elections 2015
The Central Elections Commission of Uzbekistan has also announced the electoral round for Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The CEC adopted a decision to determine 29 March 2015 as the day of elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with Article 117 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Article 2 of the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ensuing Elections to Representative Bodies of Government and of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Article 8 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The CEC meeting participants also approved a program of major events concerning the preparations for and conduct of elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

It was also stressed at the session that all the events related to the preparations for and conduct of elections are carried out by the Central Election Commission and election commissions to be set up, in an open manner and with publicity, in strict adherence to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and laws on elections.

Concluding Remarks
Elections, political system and democracy are the modern trinity of human survival, human rights, freedom of expression, socio-economic prosperity, national production and people’s prosperity and holding regular Parliamentary Elections since its inception The Republic of Uzbekistan is standing at the apex of these golden principles of democracy and delivery.

It is the easiest and smoothest way for power sharing and gross-root participation in Uzbekistan. It provides political stability and economic sustainability. It stands for political wisdom and hope for betterment. It transforms political parties, society, civility, economics, administration and state craftsmanship.

It is the ideal combination of divergences and convergences in any civilized country in the world. From classical Athens walled democracy to modern people free choice exercise, elections have been remained part and parcel of strategic way forward. All the parties contested in good spirits in the Elections 2014.

The active participation of all the political parties and their candidates in modernization of the country through the process of democratization and politicization will pay dividends in the days to come.

There was no hustle and bustle in and out-side the polling stations. Everything was completely arranged and up to the any international standard. Voters were disciplined and proactive in casting their votes. I saw a sizeable number of young voters which showed their generational belief in the political system, democratization and further strengthening of palatalization in the country. First time young voters were gifted red roses, pens and watches.

Aged people went to vote from early morning. The citizens at large understood the responsibility for the future development of their country. Every polling station had a well decorated children room” and complete “medical unit” which enhanced the levels of human comfort and easiness. Voters (old, disabled, patients) who could not visit polling stations could actually caste their votes at their place of residence or at hospitals because of excellent arrangements and provisions in the electoral system.

“Right from the beginning, The Republic of Uzbekistan has exceled in all fields of collective national survival (socio-economic development, and production (industrialization, rigorous commercial diplomacy, and diversification of economy & resources)”.

“The Parliamentary Elections 2014 would further strengthen the process of democratization and politicization in the country”. It means Uzbekistan country has chosen the right way of national development.”