Tajikistan held its parliamentary elections on March 2, achieving a 59% voter turnout and valid results per the CCER. President Emomali Rahmon and Mayor Rustam Emomali participated in the voting, alongside 230 observers from the CIS and SCO. The ruling People’s Democratic Party continues to dominate, raising concerns about the impact of political pluralism in the country.
Elections for Tajikistan’s lower parliamentary chamber, the Majlisi Namoyandagon, occurred on March 2, and they were deemed valid with a voter turnout of 59% reported by noon, surpassing the required 50% for validity. The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) confirmed no complaints arose during the voting process. President Emomali Rahmon and his son Rustam Emomali, who is the Mayor of Dushanbe, participated in the election at polling station No. 15 in electoral district No. 23.
A total of 41 single-mandate constituencies and 3,513 polling stations were established throughout Tajikistan, with 36 polling stations operating in 28 countries internationally. The voting hours extended from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with the preliminary results set to be announced on March 3 at 10:00 AM. It is noteworthy that Tajikistan does not undertake exit polls due to low electoral competition.
The elections were monitored by approximately 230 observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), who commended the organization and transparency of the voting process. Dmitry Kobitsky of the IPA CIS praised the conditions for the elections, stating, “All necessary conditions were ensured, and everything related to election preparation was organized at a very high level.”
For the first time, the elections proceeded without observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, who withdrew due to a lack of guarantees for observer accreditation. Several media outlets, including Radio Liberty and BBC, were also barred from covering the voting process for failing to meet application deadlines.
The Majlisi Namoyandagon consists of 63 members, with 41 elected in single-member constituencies and 22 through proportional representation. Candidates for these elections were nominated by six of the seven officially recognized political parties, excluding the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan, while a total of 220 candidates contested the 63 seats. In the previous election held on March 1, 2020, the ruling People’s Democratic Party claimed victory, securing 47 of the 63 seats in the parliament.
This ruling party garnered 50.4% of the ballots, with additional seats won by the Agrarian Party, the Party of Economic Reforms, the Socialist Party, and the Democratic Party. All these parties are aligned with the government, leading some experts to conclude they will not significantly impact the political landscape of Tajikistan, especially since the Social Democratic Party has never held parliamentary representation.
The recent elections for Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament were marked by significant voter participation and thorough monitoring by international observers, albeit lacking representation from the OSCE. The ruling People’s Democratic Party continued to consolidate power, with opposition parties remaining marginalized. Although the elections were deemed valid, the overall political environment remains heavily influenced by pro-government parties, raising questions about the effectiveness of democratic representation in the country.
Original Source: asiaplustj.info
