In accordance with Article 117 of the Constitution, Article 2 of the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On regular elections to the representative bodies of state authority and of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” and Article 8 of the Law “On the Election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” the decision was made which determine the date of presidential elections of the Republic of Uzbekistan it is March 29, 2015. In this regard, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan announced the election campaign for the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from December 26, 2014. Central Election Commission also approved a Program of main measures on the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to this program, all activities related to the preparation and conduct of elections is carrying out by the Central Election Commission, election commissions in open and transparent manner, with strict accordance to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the electoral legislation. The Central Election Commission also adopted a resolution on the formation of the Republican Press Center on Coverage of the Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which is located at: 16, Navoi str., Tashkent. Consistently preparation is underway for the upcoming elections on the basis of the requirements of legislation and programs substantive preparations and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In the country of 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. The composition of the district election commissions includes respected members of society who have accumulated experience in past elections. Information on the structure, location and contact telephone numbers of district election commissions published in the local press. 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 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. As previously reported, representatives of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milly Tiklanish”, the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” with the aim to participate in the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan package of necessary documents. On the basis of the documents submitted, the Central Election Commission in accordance with Articles 14 and 24 of the Law “On Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” admitted the political parties to participate in the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. On January 15 and 16, 2015, four political parties held a regular sessions. In their meetings political parties considered the issue of developing and implementing a complex action plan to ensure full implementation of the tasks outlined in their Election programs. All politics noted that recently held parliamentary elections were organized in full compliance with the requirements of the Constitution and the electoral laws of the country, internationally recognized standards, on the basis of a truly democratic principles of openness, transparency, alternatives, and most important, the multi-party system. In their sessions political parties also discussed the issue of participation in the upcoming 29 March elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was noted that this process is of importance in the political life of the country, and they will actively participate on it. It is planned that these issues will be implemented in full accordance with the laws of the country, in particular, of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Law “On elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan”. The Movement of entrepreneurs and businessmen – liberal democratic party of Uzbekistan decided to nominate from the party of a candidate Islam Abduganievich Karimov at the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Based on the fact that issues relating to the participation of the party in this election will decide its highest body, the Congress, the participants were scheduled to hold the next party congress on February 6, 2015. The People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan proposed to nominate a candidate the Chairman of the Central Council of the party Hatamjon Ketmanov to the post of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and this proposal was supported by voters, supporters and activists of the party. The Party comprehensively discussed issues about the convocation of the IX Congress of the Party and its agenda. The Central Council of the Democratic party of Uzbekistan (DPU) “Milliy Tiklanish” in its regular Plenum on January 16, 2015 in Tashkent on the basis of expressed by participants opinions and suggestions, nominated the member of the parliamentary faction of the DPU Akmal Saidov as candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan. In accordance with the current electoral legislation, the party Congress carries out the nomination of a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. At that it was decided to convene the annual fourth party of Congress on February 7 of the current year and to discuss this issue. The same day, January 16, 2015, the Political Council of the Social-Democratic party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” as a future presidential candidate of the Republic of Uzbekistan from the party nominated Chairman of the Political Council of the SDPU Nariman Umarov. According to the party Charter, a candidate for the post of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is put forward by the Party Kurultay. In this regard, the holding of the VII Kurultai of the SDPU was scheduled for February 10, 2015 in Tashkent. For registration of candidates for President political parties must submit petitions with signatures of at least 5 percent of the total number of voters of Uzbekistan (20.798 million), 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 hold in atmosphere of openness, fairness and in line with the legislation as well as 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 presidential elections will be monitored by both local and foreign observers and authoritative international organizations. 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. According to the Resolution of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan from January 7, 14 constituencies formed for the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan within the borders of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and Tashkent city.  

By Mete Erdurcan. Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi resigned after but two years in office. He had had to deal with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS and the Shia Houthis. After the latter rebel group took the presidential chief of staff captive, and seized control of key government buildings located in the capital of Sana’a, the President and ministers resigned en masse. This development deeply affects Europe and the USA as the atrocities in Paris  were funded by terrorist groups based in Yemen. The Houthis are a Zaydi Shia armed group from the north of Yemen, and comprise of around 30% of the population. Since the abolition of the Zaydi Imamate they have been sidelined by the central government which has led to an armed struggle of more than a decade. In addition to the conflict with the central government, the Houthis are also at war with the Sunni AQAP. The nation’s hope for peace was substituted with chaos, as the truce treaty, signed last Wednesday was violated the very next day. The Hadi coalition had agreed to amend the Yemeni constitution to give the tribes associated to the Houthis more influence in return for their retreat from governmental institutions. This seems to have been in vain, and as a consequence thereto the President resigned from office. For the international community it is therefore unclear who wields power in the country after the resignations.  

Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images Statement by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the hostage incident of Japanese nationals in Syria

1. We have been pursuing every possible means including all available diplomatic channels, first and foremost, to save lives of the two Japanese nationals. It is under these circumstances that an image in which Mr. Haruna Yukawa seems to have been murdered, was uploaded online. Fully aware of unbearable pain and sorrow that his family must be feeling, I am simply left speechless. Such act of terrorism is outrageous and impermissible, which causes me nothing but strong indignation. Thus I express resolute condemnation.
2. Again, I strongly demand that Mr. Kenji Goto not be harmed and be immediately released. The Government of Japan will, in its entirety, do its utmost in order to have him released.
3. The Government of Japan will never give in to terrorism, and actively contribute to the peace and stability of the world together with the international community in an unwavering manner.

 

Evo Morales celebrates his inauguration and begins third term as President of Plurinational Republic of Bolivia. By Emma Moore. Following an election campaign fought with the background of almost eight years of solid economic growth, the Bolivian electorate decisively re-elected Evo Morales to a third term as President of Bolivia in October 2014. The returning president celebrated his inauguration on 22 and 23 January this week, with over 40 countries, including a delegation from the U.S. and presidents from Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador, represented across the two days, including at both the indigenous and official inauguration ceremonies. Morales referenced his indigenous background appearing dressed as a sun god amidst the pre-Inca ruins of Tiwanaku. Morales has served as president since 2006 and during his two periods in office has spearheaded various policies aimed at socio-economic reform in Bolivia, despite opposition from the conservative middle class. These reforms have included using the denationalisation of key Bolivian industries such as oil and gas in order to fund social projects and public work programmes, and have been generally successful in reducing the hardship suffered by the population, with extreme poverty and poverty declining by 25% and 43% respectively. Economic growth under Morales has averaged 5% each year, way ahead of growth in Bolivia’s neighbouring countries. Morales’ tenure has also seen electrical reform and democratisation, with several referenda and a greater voice for the indigenous people of Bolivia of which he is the first Bolivian leader from an indigenous background. (Morales is from an Aymara farming family.) Somewhat controversially, Morales was able to contest an unprecedented third term, despite the country’s limit of two presidential terms, by citing constitutional reform. Despite these reforms and advancements there is still much to achieve as Bolivia remains the poorest nation in South America. The legal working age in the country is 10 years of age and Bolivians receive has the lowest minimum wage of the region. It is hoped that the next five years will see election pledges to provide further reform coming to fruition, although observers will be closely watching Bolivia’s next economic moves with oil and gas prices falling, as well as how Morales continues his frosty relationship with the U.S. Back in October, Morales celebrated by dedicating his election victory to fellow leaders Fidel Castro and the late Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. The president’s current term will end in 2020 and will make him Bolivia’s longest serving president.