Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, August 22 /Trend H.Hasanov/
The Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan (CEC) summed up the additional elections for local authorities, members of the etrap (district) and khalg maslahaty (national councils which were held on August 18, the CEC of Turkmenistan reported.
According to the information, reports from the chairmen of the city of Ashgabat and Akhal velayat (region) election commissions were heard at the meeting.
The elections related to the emergence of the newly formed etraps (regions) in the administrative structure of Ashgabat. These are the Ruhabat and Abadan etraps. Elections to the gengeshs (local councils) of the Derweze district of the Akhal velayat region were also held.
Some 20 electoral districts were formed in each of the above mentioned etraps for the election of members to the khalg maslahaty and nine electoral districts were formed in Derweze etrap for the election of members of the gengeshs.
The elections were held 'in an atmosphere of openness and transparency, on a broad alternative basis and with a high turnout of electors', the CEC reports.
Nominations of candidates were carried out on a competitive basis.
Monitoring of the electoral process was carried out by national observers and careful vote counting continues.
In May 2013, a new electoral code came into the force in Turkmenistan.
This regulates relations arising for the preparation and holding of presidential elections, elections of deputies to the Majlis (parliament), members of the local self-government bodies - khalg maslahaty and gengeshs, as well as referendums and establishes safeguards that ensure the free expression of the will of Turkmen citizens.
Consultations were provided by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in the development of a unified election code.