Election campaigning has started in Turkmenistan before the early presidential election scheduled for March 12. This was reported by the TDH agency on Monday.
According to its information, the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda announced the beginning of the election campaign on February 14, which included several stages: nomination of candidates, their registration and meetings with voters. The agency notes that earlier, a resolution of the Majlis (lower house) of the Milli Gengesh (parliament) set the presidential election for March 12.
The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda approved a calendar of events for preparing and holding the elections. It also discussed several organizational aspects of the upcoming campaign, which will be monitored not only by national observers from political parties and civic organizations but also by international experts and observers.
Last Friday, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said at a meeting of the Khalk Maslakhaty (upper house of parliament) that it was time to give way to the young. He stressed that he reached the age of the Prophet Muhammad (63) two years ago and has now made "a difficult decision". On Saturday, the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda announced the March 12 special presidential election. The candidates who will run in the election have not yet been announced.
Turkmenistan's previous presidential election was held on February 12, 2017. On them, 97.28% of voters voted for Berdymukhamedov. Eight other candidates ran, each receiving less than or slightly more than 1% of the vote. The next presidential election was to be held in Turkmenistan in 2024.
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Based on materials from TASS