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All 50 seats in the Assembly 26 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||
| Turnout | 99.77% | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||
Parliamentary elections were held in Turkmenistan on 11 December 1994, [1] the first since independence. [2] All 50 seats were won by the former Communist Party, which had rebranded as the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and remained the sole legal party. [2]
On 27 October 1991 Turkmenistan became the last Central Asian Republic to declare independence from the Soviet Union. Shortly afterwards, the Communist Party of Turkmenistan rebranded itself as the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPK). [1] This change had little practical connotations, as Gorbachev's reforms towards a more democratic polity had failed to penetrate into Turkmenistan and Turkmen president Saparmurat Niyazov chose to maintain his iron-grip following independence. [3] Niyazov is noted to have said "We did not smash the former power structures all at once, which could have created a power vacuum and led to disturbances. We chose the path of steady, gradual transformation [...] Moreover, our government has resolutely suppressed attempts to pursue destructive notions on the crest of the wave of pseudo-reform and Glasnost." Under the new constitution, Turkmenistan was to have a presidential system of government and Niyazov took over the role. [1] On 15 January 1994 a referendum was held on the prolongation of President Niyazov's term of office until 2002, with a claimed 99.99% of voters voting in support. [1]
Following the promulgation of the new constitution, the Supreme Soviet was replaced with a Parliament (Mejlis), with the number of seats reduced from 175 to 50. [1] A People's Council (Halk Malshaty) was also created, which consisted of the president, members of the Mejlis, 60 People's Advisors (Khalk Vekilleri) elected from each administrative district (Etrap), the Chair of the Supreme Court, Council of Ministers, and other high-ranking officials of the judicial branch and the state administration. The highest representative body, it was set to convene once a year. A new electoral law was adopted on 13 May 1994 without any significant deviations from the Soviet precedent. [1] Universal suffrage was guaranteed to all citizens above 18 years provided they were not serving a prison-term or were of unsound mind. [1] Any political party or a social organization or a group with over 200 registered members was allowed to nominate candidates, as long as they were above 25 years of age and possessed unconditional devotion to Turkmenistan. [1]
A 23-member Central Election Commission (CEC) was tasked with overseeing the elections, with help from subordinate commissions. [4] A two-round system was decided to be used. [2] To indicate support, voters had to leave the names untouched; else, they had to strike them off. [2] On a successful election, the candidate had to give up government appointments. [1]
In reality, Turkmenistan had no other party apart from DPK; Niyazov attempted to open a "Peasant's Party" — as propaganda — whose failure was exhibited by the state as the reluctance of Turkmens to have a multi-party state. [4] Only 54 candidates were proposed for the 50 constituencies — all other candidates withdrew or were disqualified. [2] Of these, three failed to register and one backed out after registration. [2] Thus, 50 candidates ran for 50 seats; [2] 45 men and five women. [2] 21 were aged between 31 and 40 years, 22 between 41 and 50 years, and the rest were older. [2] 45 were Turkmen, 2 Russian, and 3 Uzbek. [4]
Posters with pictures and short biographs were plastered across prominent venues — expenses were borne by the Election Commission. [4] The local commissions arranged for face-to-face meetings with constituents. [4] These meetings would be discussed in local newspapers, and the candidates effusively praised; particular emphasis was given on how they enjoyed "unanimous support". [4]
The elections took place on 11 December from 08:00 to 18:00. [4] Multiple poling stations were set up in each electoral district. [4] The ballots were printed in Turkmen and Russian, including the name of the candidate, profession, place of work, and residence address. [4] The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe requested to send observers but no response was received from the Turkmen government. [4] However, observers from Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and US Embassy diplomats were allowed. [4]
Official statistics record a 99.77% voter turnout, at par with other elections. [1] 78 votes (0.0039%) were struck off as invalid. [1]
 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
| Democratic Party of Turkmenistan | 50 | |||
| Total | 50 | |||
| Valid votes | 2,008,701 | 100.00 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 78 | 0.00 | ||
| Total votes | 2,008,779 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 2,013,423 | 99.77 | ||
| Source: Nohlen et al. | ||||
The inaugural session of the newly elected parliament was held on 26 December. [2] Sakhat Muradov was reappointed as chairman. [2]
The history of Turkmenistan traditionally began with the arrival of Indo-European Iranian tribes around 2000 BC. Early tribes were nomadic or semi-nomadic due to the arid conditions of the region, preventing widespread adoption of agriculture. The steppe culture in Central Asia was an extension of a larger Eurasian series of horse cultures which spanned the entire spectrum of language families, including the Indo-Europeans and Turko-Mongol groups. Some of the known early Iranian tribes included the Massagatae, the Scythians/Sakas, and early Soghdians, who were most likely precursors of the Khwarezmians. Turkmenistan was a passing point for numerous migrations and invasions by tribes, which gravitated towards the settled regions of the south, including ancient Mesopotamia, Elam, and the Indus Valley civilization.
The politics of Turkmenistan nominally takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Turkmenistan is nominally both head of state and head of government. However, as of 21 January 2023 a "national leader" was appointed who chairs an independent People's Council (viz.) with authority to amend the constitution, and who exercises supreme political authority. No true opposition parties are allowed; every registered political party supports the third and current President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The country is frequently described as a totalitarian state.
Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ashgabat is the capital and largest city. It is one of the six independent Turkic states. With a population of 6.5 million, Turkmenistan is the 35th most-populous country in Asia and has the lowest population of the Central Asian republics while being one of the most sparsely populated nations on the Asian continent.
Turkmenistan elects on national level a head of state — the president — and a legislature. The elections in Turkmenistan since its split from the Soviet Union have been widely criticized for being neither free nor fair and attempting to give an appearance of legitimacy to what is in reality a dictatorship. Parties in Turkmenistan are the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. The president has a seven-year term, while the legislature has a five-year term.
The president of Turkmenistan, officially the president and chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, is the head of state and head of government of Turkmenistan. The president is also the supreme commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan and heads the State Security Council.
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The People's Council of Turkmenistan is Turkmenistan's independent "representative body" exerting supreme constitutional authority. It includes in its membership, but is not considered part of, the legislature. Among other things, it is empowered to amend the constitution. Its chairperson is appointed by the president and is designated the "National Leader". State media referred to the People's Council as the "supreme organ of government authority". From 2018 to 2023 it was the upper chamber of Turkmenistan's Parliament, the "National Council".
The Assembly is the unicameral legislature of Turkmenistan. Between March 2021 and 21 January 2023, it was the lower house of the National Council of Turkmenistan. It consists of 125 members, who are elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies.
Presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan on 11 February 2007, following the death of president-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov on 21 December 2006.
Parliamentary elections were held in Turkmenistan on 14 December 2008, with a second round held in one constituency on 28 December 2008 and a revote in one constituency on 8 February 2009. The number of assembly members was increased from 65 to 125 in constitutional reforms enacted on 26 September 2008. It was the first election since Turkmenistan's independence in which, theoretically, parties other than the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan are allowed to take part since the constitution no longer defined Turkmenistan as a one-party state. However, no legal opposition parties had been set up and the fact that the election took place in single-seat constituencies greatly diminished the opposition's chance of gaining parliamentary representation.
Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov, also known as Türkmenbaşy, was a Turkmen politician who ruled Turkmenistan from 1985 until his death in 2006. He was first secretary of the Turkmen Communist Party from 1985 until 1991 and supported the 1991 Soviet coup attempt. He continued to rule Turkmenistan for 15 years after independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
An independence referendum was held in the Turkmen SSR on 26 October 1991.
A referendum on extending President Saparmurat Niyazov's term until 2002 was held in Turkmenistan on 15 January 1994. Official results showed that the proposal was approved by 99.99% of voters, with a 100% turnout.
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Parliamentary elections were held in Turkmenistan on 12 December 1999. All 50 seats were won by the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, which remained the sole legal party.
Parliamentary elections were held in Turkmenistan on 19 December 2004, with a second round in seven constituencies on 9 January 2005. A total of 131 candidates contested the 50 seats, all of whom were members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, the country's sole legal party. Voter turnout was reported to be 76.88%, although in Ashgabat the low turnout prompted election officials to take the ballot boxes to people's houses.
Parliamentary elections were held in Turkmenistan on 15 December 2013. Although they were the first multi-party elections in the country's history, both contesting parties claimed loyalty to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. The ruling Democratic Party emerged as the largest faction in the Assembly with 47 of the 125 seats, losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence. The elections were criticized by the OSCE, Amnesty International, and opposition groups such as the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights. Farid Tukhbatulin of the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights said that there was little difference between the two major parties, arguing that neither truly represented opposition groups.
The Women's Union of Turkmenistan is a mass women's organisation in Turkmenistan. For a long time, Women's Union was the only women organization permitted in the country. Advocating for women's rights, this organization appeared as a non-governmental organization, but in reality, Women's Union was closely linked and controlled by the government.
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The Magtymguly Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan is a registered social and political organization in Turkmenistan. It held seats in the Mejilis of Turkmenistan of the sixth convocation (2013–2018). Despite this organization having the appearance of a non-governmental organization, in reality, Magtymguly Youth Organisation was closely linked and controlled by the government.
| Presidential elections | |
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| Assembly elections | |
| People's Council elections | |
| Local elections | |
| Referendums | |
