Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Dec. 21
By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend:
An organizational meeting of the newly elected Majlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan will be held in January 2014, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said at the cabinet meeting, the Turkmen government reported on Dec.21.
"In early January, we will hold an organizational meeting of the newly elected Majlis at the Ruhiyet Palace... During the meeting, open elections of the leaders of the newly elected Majlis will be held. At the same time the meeting will determine the issues which will be a focus of the MPs efforts, " the head of state said, according to the information.
The current head of the parliament Akja Nurberdieva has held this position since February 2007. Election of deputies of the fifth convocation of Turkmen Majlis were held on December 15, 2013 and 125 deputies were elected out of 283 candidates.
"The elections were held on a competitive basis, democratic principles, in an atmosphere of openness and transparency," the president said.
First time in the history of Turkmenistan the representatives of the two parties (the Democratic Party and Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs) took part in the elections. In addition to local observers, foreign observers and representatives of international organizations such as the OSCE and the CIS were invited.
According to the CEC, the number of voters was 91.33 per cent of all Turkmen citizens eligible to vote. The voting took place at 2,446 polling stations in the country. 33 more stations were created at the embassies and consular offices of Turkmenistan.
Translated by M.L.