Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct.2
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan has signed bilateral agreements on cooperation with the National Television and Radio Company, Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA), as well as the Jahon news agency of the country's Foreign Ministry, the CEC told Trend on Oct.2.
The documents aim to ensure the publicity and openness of the election process and envisage measures to inform the local and foreign society about the preparations and holding of the election of MPs to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (parliament of Uzbekistan), provincial, district and city councils.
In mid-September, the CEC announced the start of the election campaign for the election of MPs. Uzbekistan will hold the parliamentary election on Dec. 21 in accordance with the country's constitution.
The lists of 135 constituencies with their borders and the number of voters will be published Oct. 7 in accordance with the electoral law.
Prior to Oct. 12, the CEC will approve the personal composition of the district election commissions.
The country's political parties will present relevant documents to the CEC prior to Oct. 12 to participate in the parliamentary election.
The nomination of MP candidates will start Oct. 17, and their registration will end on Nov. 16. Under the law, the election campaign begins from the date of registration of candidates and ends on Dec. 19.
Uzbekistan's bicameral parliament was created in 2005. The legislative chamber permanently employs 150 MPs elected in Dec. 2009 from four political parties and the Uzbek Ecological Movement. They were elected for a five-year period.
The parliament's upper house, the Senate, employs 100 MPs elected in equal numbers, i.e. six people from the Karakalpakstan Republic, regions and the city of Tashkent.
Aside from that, 16 members of the Senate are appointed by the president of Uzbekistan from among the most distinguished citizens.
Uzbek population is 31 million people, and over 20 million of them are potential voters.