Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Feb. 18
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
The presidential election, to be held in Uzbekistan on March 29, 2015, is the most important socio-political event in the country's modern history, the Central Election Committee (CEC) chairman Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov told the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan (UzA).
"The country's future and its further development depend on the activity, political maturity of all participants, and, ultimately, the voters," Abdusalomov said.
He said that the election is an essential factor of a democratic legal state with a strong civil society.
Abdusalomov said that one of the key priorities of the policy of renewing and modernizing the country, implemented during the years of independence, was the creation of a modern electoral system.
He said the system meets the requirements of democracy and the conditions of the dynamic development of the country, as well as ensures the free, active participation of citizens, political parties in the election processes, reliable guarantees of full implementation of voting rights.
"The election campaign 2015 in our country is being held in the qualitatively new socio-political and socio-economic conditions, increased interparty competition, political and civic activity of the population," Abdusalomov said.
During the large-scale reforms, Uzbekistan achieved great success in democratization and liberalization of the political, economic and humanitarian spheres.
"Among our main achievements, there is first and foremost the strengthening of peace, tranquility and civil accord in the country, the sustainable economic growth, the constant improvement of well-being, the level and quality of the population's life, and the formation and development of civil society in the country," said the CEC chairman.
He said the increased level of political activity, legal and political culture of the population was confirmed by the 2014 election in the Oliy Majlis, the regional, district and city councils of people's deputies.
"Their results demonstrated the commitment of the country and the people to the building of a democratic state, and showed to what extent the citizens' demands increased in the assessment of socio-political and socio-economic reforms, the parties' participation in this process, their activities and program settings," he said.
"All this required the parties to not only to increase activity in election campaigns, but also to raise their work and the election programs of the presidential candidates, who are nominated by them, to a higher political level," he said
Abdusalomov further said all the legislation acts adopted in Uzbekistan in this sphere, are aimed at a strict observance of electoral rights of citizens on the basis of the principles of fairness, publicity, openness, and the creation of conditions for voters to freely participate in election, and creation of wide and equal opportunities during the election campaigns for the political parties and their presidential candidates.
To this end, amendments and additions were made to the electoral law for a more complete fulfillment of the principle of the freedom of choice, providing equal conditions for the political parties and their candidates during the pre-election campaign and ensuring transparency in the voting process.
Under the amendments to the country's constitution, for the first time in the world, the Central Election Commission was given the status of a constitutional body holding a special place in the state power system. It is engaged in preparations and holding of elections without interference of other government bodies.
It was earlier reported that the nomination of presidential candidates was carried out by supreme bodies - congresses or kurultais (assembly) of the parties allowed to participate in the election - Liberal Democratic Party, National Democratic Party Milly Tiklanish, People's Democratic Party and Social Democratic Party (SDP) Adolat.
The parties submitted the CEC the signature sheets supporting their candidates and the CEC registered the presidential candidates and announced the start of the pre-election campaign.
The presidential candidates and the political parties have equal rights in using media in the pre-election campaign.
Moreover, the candidates have equal rights to hold meetings with voters and to have up to 15 authorized representatives who help them in holding the pre-election campaign, campaign for their election and represent their interests in various organizations.
Observers from political parties, media representatives, observers from other countries, international organizations and movements are entitled to attend and participate in all events on preparation and conduct of election, as well as polling stations on election day and during the counting of votes at each polling station.
Republican press center for coverage of presidential election was created at the CEC. Similar press centers operate at district election commissions in all regions of the country as well. More than 340 representatives of local and foreign media have been accredited to cover the presidential election.
"Strict adherence to the national legislation during the election campaign and the manifestation by our citizens, including young people, of their active life and political position will contribute to holding the upcoming presidential election in full compliance with the principles of democracy and, ultimately, intensification of wide-scale and successive democratic reforms implemented in Uzbekistan," said the chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan.