Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Aug. 9 / Trend H. Hasanov /
The next presidential elections in Turkmenistan scheduled for February 12, 2012 will be based on the Constitution and in accordance with the UN and OSCE international electoral standards," the committee of the national parliament said.
"The law stipulates that the Turkmen presidential elections are conducted on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot on a competitive basis," Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported. "The process is based on the Turkmen constitution and taking into account the UN and the OSCE international electoral standards."
The electoral process is implemented on the principle of free and equal nomination of candidates for the Turkmen president and openness, freedom, campaigning, equal opportunities for all candidates.
The political parties, public associations and groups of citizens have the right to nominate presidential candidates in accordance with the Turkmen constitution.
The OSCE documents stipulate that the presence of observers, both foreign and local, can enhance the electoral process.
The local press reported that Turkmen and foreign media representatives may participate in the electoral process to objectively evaluate the process. Election commissions, state bodies, political parties, public organizations must provide them with relevant information.
The representatives of foreign media must be accredited to the Central Election Commission to cover the preparation for the elections.
Incumbent Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the governmental meeting has recently said that the coming presidential elections in Turkmenistan should take place in atmosphere of openness and transparency.
According to the Constitution, the president of Turkmenistan must be a citizen of Turkmenistan, who was born in Turkmenistan, at least forty years old and no older than seventy years, who knows the state language, within the past fifteen years been resident in Turkmenistan and working in state bodies, public associations, enterprises in institutions and organizations.
Presidential term is five years.