On Wednesday, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan decided to start campaigning for early presidential elections in the country.
"In accordance with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's decree on scheduling early presidential elections in Uzbekistan, as well as based on the Electoral Code and the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Central Election Commission announces the beginning of the election campaign for early presidential elections in the republic, which according to the presidential decree will be held on July 9," said CEC Chairman Zayniddin Nizamkhojaev at the Central Election Commission meeting, which is broadcast on the agency's YouTube channel.
On May 8, Mirziyoyev signed a decree on holding early presidential elections. "Using the powers granted to the country's president by Article 128 of the updated constitution, the head of state signed a second important decree. According to it, presidential elections in our country will be held early," Sherzod Asadov, the press secretary of the president of the republic, wrote in his Telegram channel.
Earlier, Mirziyoyev signed a law allowing early elections. "When the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan appoints early presidential elections, elections are held within two months in full accordance with this code," the text of the law reads. The document was passed by the Legislative (lower) chamber of parliament, approved by the Senate (upper chamber) and entered into force on May 8.
The Electoral Code previously allowed for early elections only if the incumbent president was unable to perform his duties for three months. During this period, the powers of the head of state were transferred to the chairman of the Senate.
Uzbekistan held a national referendum April 30 on a new version of the constitution that would extend the president's term from five to seven years and allow Mirziyoyev to be re-elected after two consecutive terms. According to the CEC, turnout during the referendum was 84.54%, or more than 16.6 million people. Of those, more than 15 million people (90.21%) voted for the new version of the constitution.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Guidecity/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS