The Results of the Presidential Election In
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14.02.2017-20.02.2017 • No: 103 THE RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN TURKMENISTAN AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES On February 12, 2017, the fifth presidential election important role in ensuring the political stability of cial centers; 5) Tourism Sector: a) to accelerate the was held in Turkmenistan. According to the Central the state. Therefore, it is not surprising that a new steps to reach the world standards of tourism and to Election Commission of Turkmenistan, the turnout Constitution of the country was adopted at the restructure the health-sanatorium system, b) to in the election was 97.27% or 3,140,865 of regis- meeting of the Council of Elders on September 14, accelerate the studies on the development of Awaza tered voters. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was 2016. national tourist zone at the Caspian coast, c) to set up reelected as the President for the third time with According to the updated Constitution, the upper age green recreation zones 40-50 km away from the 97.69% (3,068,311) of votes. The presidential limit (seventy years) to be elected President of riverside, d) to build well-developed holiday centers election in Turkmenistan was monitored by a total of Turkmenistan was removed and the presidential term in the Kopetdag, Koitengaz and Sumbara valleys and 3,374 observers from the international and local was extended from 5 to 7 years. Thus, according to in the Amuderya, Karakum and Murgab coasts; 6) organizations. Representatives of international the new Constitution, the President shall be elected Strengthening Internal Politics and Local Govern- organizations such as the Islamic Cooperation directly by the people of Turkmenistan for a period ments: a) to improve the political system of the Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent of 7 years (Article 70). Moreover, every citizen of country and to strengthen the local governments in States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as Turkmenistan, born in Turkmenistan, not younger order to achieve a further democratization process, well as local observers who monitored the election than 40 years, who speaks the national language, has b) to increase the influence and roles of the repre- recognized the presidential election as open, free and been living and working constantly in Turkmenistan sentative bodies of local self-government (Genesh) democratic. for the past 15 years, can be elected as President of in the provinces and districts, villages and towns, c) According to Turkmenistan’s law on the elections, Turkmenistan (Article 69). to provide the necessary facilities for newly estab- candidates for the presidency may be nominated by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov outlined his strategic lished political parties in order to make these parties the political parties and the initiative groups of priorities for the new term in both his electoral to work more efficiently; 7) Developing and Using citizens who registered before the election date statements and official inauguration speech. Accord- New Technologies: a) to train qualified personnel in (Article 44). Candidates from groups of citizens ingly, Berdimuhamedov emphasized that he would the field of modern communication and multimedia must be supported by the signatures of at least give priority to politics based on the creation of technology, b) to ensure the use of new technologies 10,000 voters, with at least 300 signatures collected "Advanced Industrial Society", thereby would aim to to make hydrocarbon resources more efficient in the in each of at least a third of the country’s districts increase the people's welfare and the economic country; 8) Investment in Renewable Energy Re- (Article 46). A total of 9 candidates running for the potential of the country. In this direction, Turkmeni- sources: to invest in the development of solar and presidency were officially registered. There are only stan aims to develop industry, tourism and agricul- wind power, especially in the context of develop- three parties that are permitted to operate legally in ture sectors and new technologies, as well as to ment of green energy in the country. the country. Therefore, Gurbanguli increase investments in the fields of education, The aforementioned policies, which the President of Berdimuhamedov, Bekmyrat Atalyev and science, health and social services, and to strengthen Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov aims Durdygylych Orazov were nominated as candidates local authorities. to achieve in the next seven years, mostly focus on from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, the Indeed, the key points outlined by Berdimuhamedov the ways to overcome the current problems of the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turk- in his election statements and official speeches in country in both economic (providing additional menistan and the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan, terms of the state development can be summarized as revenue to the public budget) and security issues. It respectively. The other 6 candidates were nominated follows: 1) Industry Sector: a) to give support to the is well known that due to changing conditions in by the initiative groups of citizens: 1) Deputy Head industry sector by providing extra incentives, b) to international gas market and other economic and of Mary province, Jumanazar Annayev; 2) Director prioritize the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources financial problems, Russia has stopped buying of Seydi Oil Refinery, Ramazan Durdiyev; 3) in the country; 2) Agriculture Sector: a) to increase Turkmen natural gas since January 2016. Moreover, Deputy Head of Dashoguz district, Meretdurdy the competitiveness of the agricultural commodities Turkmenistan has limited natural gas supplies to Iran Gurbanov; 4) Head of the Economic and Develop- giving priority to their exports to the world markets, since January 2017 due to unpaid debts. Such a ment Department of the Akhal province, Serdar b) to continue the implementation of the National situation causes China to become the primary Jelilov; 5) Chief Executive of the “Garabogazsulfat” Rural Development Program and to establish a importer of the Turkmen natural gas. It also led to Association of the “Turkmenhimiya”State Concern, hydraulic irrigation system that will allow to in- further reduction in gas revenues. Turkmenistan is Suleimannepes Nurnepesov; 6) Deputy Chairman of crease the efficient use of water in the villages, c) to willing to increase the energy security by actively the State Association of Food Industry of Turkmeni- increase the number of areas in which halophyte is supporting the projects such as TAPI and Trans- stan, Maksat Annanepesov. The candidates nominat- cultivated by creating new settlements around the Caspian Natural Gas Pipeline, which envisage ed by the groups of citizens could receive only Turkmen lake, 3) Science and Education: a) to natural gas exports to India and the EU respectively. 2.31% (72,554) of votes in total. Maksat provide young people with better quality of educa- In this regard, taking into account the struggle Annanepesov received the most votes among tion, b) to attach importance to space researches by between the regional powers, Turkmenistan will try independent candidates, namely, 1.02%. establishing research centers and providing these to use different policy options in order to launch In recent years, as a result of the negative effects of centers with the necessary technical equipment; 4) these two projects in the long term. In these circum- the global crisis and low oil prices on most of the Health and Social Service Activities: a) to boost the stances, it is strategically important to ensure energy world countries, also on Turkmenistan, the economic social security benefits with necessary legal ar- security in these routes. Therefore, Turkmenistan has slowdown started to affect the economy of Turkmen- rangements, b) to increase the number of health identified the security and stability in the country istan. Since no additional income was provided to centers, health promotion centers and hospitals and its immediate surroundings as fundamental the public budget, the government had to cut some of within the scope of the Health State Program, c) to strategic priority. Indeed, the President of Turkmeni- the social privileges (free use of electricity, natural give importance to lighting in provinces and districts stan, in election statements, emphasized that by gas, water, etc.). Moreover, according to the World and improving infrastructure facilities, especially increasing cooperation with international organiza- Bank, Turkmenistan's GDP growth rate reduced to roads, d) to make restructural arrangements in the tions and modernization of the Armed Forces 6.5% in 2015 compared to 10.30% in 2014. Howev- settlements in the country in order to meet the basic through the purchase of new weapons from foreign er, existing socio-economic problems in the country needs of the people living in these settlements, e) to countries, Ashgabat would strengthen the fight were not negatively reflected in the results of the increase the incomes of the people and to provide against challenges such as terrorism, radicalism, presidential election. The main reason for maintain- new job opportunities, f) to increase pensions, cross-border organized criminal groups, illegal drug ing the stable political regime in the country is the employee salaries, scholarships and other social trafficking and corruption which are important presence of strong state institutions. Taking into benefits offered to the public, g) to increase the threats