On the picture H.E. Vladimir Norov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the Benelux.
The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, led by its Chairman Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, hosted an important meeting attended by members of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, heads of political parties and the representatives of mass media on 9 September 2016.
The meeting began with a minute’s silence in memory of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, who untimely passed away on 2nd September 2016.
In accordance with Articles 96, 117 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Article 8 of the Law “On elections of the President of Uzbekistan”, Articles 5 and 9 of the Law “On the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan” the assembly determinate to host the next presidential’s elections on Sunday, December 4, 2016 in order to elect the new President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In this regard, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan announced the commencement of election campaign from 9 September of this year and also approved a Program on the preparation of next elections. According to this program, all activities related to the preparation and conduct of elections is carrying out by the Central Election Commission, in strict accordance to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the electoral legislation.
In line with Articles 9 and 14 of the Law “On elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” the assembly voted a resolution on the establishment of electoral districts for the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The electoral districts for the election of the President have been set up within the boundaries of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent.
The list of electoral districts with an indication of the number of voters and locations of district election commissions are being published in mass media.
Members of the district election commissions from among members of the wider public, shall be approved by the Central Election Commission on recommendation of the Jokargy Kenes (Supreme Council) of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional and Tashkent city Kengashes (councils) of people’s deputies.
Consistently preparation is underway for the upcoming elections. Back in Uzbekistan, all political parties expressed their desire to participate in the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and to this end, the CEC presented a package of necessary documents.
In accordance with Article 24 of the Law “On Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” the right to nominate the candidate for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is possessed by political parties. Thus every political party may nominate a candidate for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the condition that it is registered by the Ministry of Justice no later than six months prior to the date of announcement of the election campaign.
On 16 September 2016 the Political Council of Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP) in its regular meeting unanimously supported the candidacy of the member of the Political Council of UzLiDeP Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the office of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which is to be considered at the next VIII Congress of the party.
The Central Council of the Democratic party of Uzbekistan (DPU) “Milliy Tiklanish” in its regular Plenum, nominated the Chairman of the Political Council, head of the faction in the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis Sarvar Otamuratov as candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan.
On 17 September 2016 the VI Plenum of the Political Council of the Social-democratic party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” supported the Chairman of the Political Council, head of the faction in the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis Nariman Umarov as candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan.
At the same day the VI Plenum of the Central Council of the People’s democratic party of Uzbekistan supported the candidate of the Chairman of the Central Council of PDPU, the head of fraction Hotamjon Ketmonov as candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan.
For registration of candidates political parties must submit petitions with signatures of at least 5 percent of the total number of voters of Uzbekistan, representing not less than 8 administrative-territorial units of the country. At the same time in a single administrative-territorial formation (Karakalpakstan region, Tashkent) party cannot collect signatures of more than 8 percent.
Candidates will start their canvass after the registration, which ends 35 days before the election.
According to the Constitution, elections of the President of Uzbekistan will be held with openness, fairness and in line with international standards. In the same time, it will contribute to entering a qualitatively new level of development of the political system and to further deepening of democratic and social-economic reforms in Uzbekistan.
The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan has sent the official invitation to the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS Executive Committee), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) to observe the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The mass media of the Republic of Uzbekistan will cover the process of preparation of the elections, as well as in polling stations on election day and counting of votes at each polling station, have the right to participate per one observer from political parties which nominated candidates for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of the print media, TV and radio, observers from other states, international organizations and movements. Their mandates should be confirmed by appropriate documents.
The mandates to observers from other states, international organizations and movements are issued by the Central Election Commission, their activities are regulated by the Provision “On observers from other states, international organizations and movements participating in the elections”, approved by the Resolution of the Central Election Commission № 734 dated September 15, 2016 and developed in line with the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” and “On the Central election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, as well as the universally recognized norms and principles of international law on the organization and holding of elections.
It should be noted that the participation of foreign and international observers in the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan serves to strengthen the principles of transparency and openness of the entire electoral process, respect for the principles of democratic elections such as: universality, equality, freedom and secret ballot.
Representatives of media (national and international) willing to cover the course of elections should get accredited at the Central Election Commission in a due procedure. The accreditation procedure can be learned on the CEC’s official website at www.elections.uz.
