Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 13
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan approved the action plan on preparation and holding the elections to the country's Oliy Majlis (parliament), regional, district and city councils at its meeting, Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA) reported.
The parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan will be held on the first Sunday of the third week of December 2014, in accordance with the country's constitution.
The program envisages taking a package of measures to ensure the transparency and openness of the elections at all stages of the election campaign. It also focuses on implementation of the preparatory work and organization of the electoral process in strict accordance with the law.
During the CEC meeting, it was emphasized that the measures taken after the 2009 elections to further liberalize and improve Uzbekistan's electoral law will allow holding the upcoming elections in accordance with the most democratic requirements and universally recognized international standards.
Previously, several amendments were made in Uzbekistan's electoral law to further increase the effectiveness of providing equal conditions for the candidates for MP, as well as for the political parties during the pre-election campaign and to improve the legal mechanisms of ensuring transparency during the elections.
In particular, Uzbekistan passed the Law on Amendments and Additions to Certain Articles of the Constitution in April 2014. It is the legal basis for the further democratization of the activity of the legislative and executive branches, increasing the activity of political parties, and strengthening inter-party competition.
The status of a constitutional body was assigned to the Central Election Commission. The mechanism of its activity, envisaging the preparation and holding of elections without the interference of any other public bodies, has been determined according to the law.
The program of events is expected to ensure the necessary conditions for active participation and free competition of political parties in the formation of state bodies, implementation of the constitutional rights of citizens to vote and to be elected to the representative bodies.
There has been a bicameral parliament in Uzbekistan since 2005. The legislative chamber permanently employs 150 deputies elected in December 2009 from four political parties and the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan for a period of five years.
The upper house - the Senate employs 100 deputies elected in equal numbers - six deputies from the Karakalpakstan Republic, regions and from the city of Tashkent. In addition, 16 members of the Senate are appointed by the Uzbekistan president and are selected from the most distinguished citizens of the country.
Edited by C.N.