Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 5
By Viktoria Zhavoronkova - Tajikistan is not going to have problems after holding presidential elections, a U.S. expert on Central Asia, said, Nov. 5.
"I do not expect there would be any post-election problems in Tajikistan," said Bruce Pannier. There will be complaints about violations on election day, but even in the most honest election President Emomali Rahmon would still win," Pannier told Trend.
November 5 the day before the vote is declared a day of election silence in Tajikistan. The country is going to elect a president on Nov. 6. Six candidates along with President Rahmon are running. .
Mr. Rahmon, the majority candidate, , has been leading the country for 21 years.
Pannier believes that the Tajik people do not want to risk changing the leadership of the country.
"Many eligible voters in Tajikistan remember the civil war of 1992-1997 that hardly anyone wants to risk a drastic change in leadership, so most in Tajikistan have already accepted current President Emomali Rahmon's re-election," he added.
President Rahmon and the government have been through three presidential election already, plus the parliamentary election. Rahmon's People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan always wins the most seats., so they are experienced at ensuring the ruling party and the president always do well, Pannier noted.
Also he stressed that the only genuine opposition candidate - Oynihol Babanazarova - already withdrew in protest at the obstacles to her meeting registration requirements.
"Since she was the "single" candidate from the opposition her withdrawal leaves only candidates from pro-presidential parties to compete against Mr. Rahmon," expert added.
About 4.35 million Tajik citizens are entitled to vote.