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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Turkmenistan |
Presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan on February 11, 2007, following the death of president-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov on 21 December 2006.
After Niyazov's death on December 21, 2006, Acting President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow stated that the date for the next presidential election would be announced on December 26, 2006; he also claimed that these elections would be held "on a democratic basis that has been laid by the great leader". [1] On December 26, 2006 the People's Council announced that the election would occur on February 11, 2007. [2]
Six candidates were approved out of eleven contenders, all of them members of the Democratic Party: [3] [4]
Current authorities endorsed the Acting President. [6] The candidate nominated by the opposition coalition (whose members are mostly in exile) (led by the Republican Party of Turkmenistan and Watan), Hudaýberdi Orazow, was not approved. [7]
Before the elections, ITAR-TASS claimed that instead of Gurbanow, Durdy Durdyýew, the Deputy Tourism and Sports Minister, would be a candidate in the election. [2] Later reports never mentioned him again and always gave the six candidates named above as the approved candidates, [8] so it seems likely that Durdyýew was only one of the eleven proposed candidates.
At the start of his campaign, Berdimuhamedow promised substantial reforms such as allowing internet access for everyone and revamping the education system, but at the same time vowed to follow Niyazov's footsteps. [9] He also said he would support small business and private ownership, noting that 61% of the economy is in private hands. [10]
Electoral officials in Turkmenistan reported that 95% of voters voted in the election. [11] Radio Free Europe disputes the voter turn-out figures provided by the government, and claims that the election was "neither free nor fair". [12] [13] The International Crisis Group has described the poll as a "blatantly falsified election". [14]
Seeking to boost voter participation, officials warned inhabitants of Lebap Province that they would not get their monthly flour rations if they failed to vote. [12] At the same time, first-time and elderly voters were promised "gifts" for voting. Later reports indicated that the gift consisted of the late Niyazov's ubiquitous Ruhnama. [12]
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was declared the winner of the election on February 14, receiving 89.23% of the votes according to official results, and was sworn in as president immediately afterwards. [15]
| Candidates | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow | 2,357,120 | 89.23 |
| Amanýaz Atajykow | 85,016 | 3.23 |
| Işanguly Nuryýew | 62,830 | 2.38 |
| Muhammetnazar Gurbanow | 62,672 | 2.37 |
| Orazmyrat Garajaýew | 40,821 | 1.55 |
| Aşyrnyýaz Pomanow | 34,733 | 1.31 |
| Total (turnout 95 %) | ||
| Source: http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/politika/pol&ofic.htm | ||
The history of Turkmenistan is largely shrouded in mystery, its past since the arrival of Indo-European Iranian tribes around 2000 BC is often the starting point of the area's discernible history. Early tribes were nomadic or semi-nomadic due to the arid conditions of the region as 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, Scythians/Sakas, and early Soghdians. 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 takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Turkmenistan is both head of state and head of government. No true opposition parties are allowed; every registered political party supports the second and current President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
Turkmenistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ashgabat is the capital and largest city of the country. The population of the country is 5.6 million, the lowest of the Central Asian republics. Turkmenistan is one of the most sparsely populated nations in Asia. Citizens of Turkmenistan are known as Turkmenistanis.
The Ruhnama is a book written by Saparmurat Niyazov, the President of Turkmenistan from 1990 to 2006, combining spiritual/moral guidance, autobiography and revisionist history; much of it is of dubious or disputed factuality and accuracy. The text includes many stories and poems, including those by Sufi poet Magtymguly Pyragy. It was intended to serve as the "spiritual guidance of the nation" and the basis of the nation's arts and literature, by creating a positive image of the Turkmen people, a heroic interpretation of its history, the review of Turkmen customs and the definition of "moral, family, social and religious norms for modern Turkmens". This would be accomplished by the book being the "centre" of the Turkmen universe.
The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (TDP) is a political party in Turkmenistan. The party was led by former Soviet provincial Party leader Saparmurat Niyazov from the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s until his death in 2006. In 2013 President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow suspended his party membership for the duration of his presidency. The current leader is Ata Serdarov.
Turkmenistan's human rights record has been heavily criticized by various countries and scholars worldwide. Standards in education and health declined markedly during the rule of President Saparmurat Niyazov.
The president of Turkmenistan is the head of state and of the executive power, is the highest official of Turkmenistan, and has the constitutional charter to act as a guarantor of national independence, territorial integrity, and adherence to the Constitution and international agreements.
Monument of Neutrality is a monument originally located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. In 2010 it was moved to the suburbs. The three-legged arch, which became known locally as "The Tripod", was 75 metres (246 ft) tall and was built in 1998 on the orders of Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov to commemorate the country's official position of neutrality. It cost $12 million to construct. The monument was topped by a 12-metre (39 ft) tall gold-plated statue of Niyazov which rotated to always face the sun. The arch was located in central Ashgabat where it dominated the skyline, being taller than the nearby Presidential Palace. The statue was illuminated at night. The arch featured a panoramic viewing platform which was a popular attraction for visitors.
Öwezgeldi Ataýew was Chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan from 2002 to 2006. According to the Constitution of Turkmenistan, he was to become the acting president after the death of Saparmurat Niyazov in December 2006. However, the State Security Council of Turkmenistan reported that Ataýew was not appointed acting president due to a criminal case started against him. Ataýew was charged with abuse of power and human rights violations.
Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow is a Turkmen politician who has been serving as the President of Turkmenistan since February 2007. Berdimuhamedow, a dentist by profession, served in the government under President Saparmurat Niyazov as Minister of Health beginning in 1997 and as Vice-President beginning in 2001. He became Acting President following Niyazov's death on 21 December 2006 and subsequently won the February 2007 presidential election. He faced no meaningful opposition in the vote and won by an overwhelming margin (89.23%). In the February 2012 presidential election, he was re-elected with 97% of the vote. In the February 2017 presidential election, he was re-elected to a third term with 97.69% of the votes.
The Republican Party of Turkmenistan is one of several dissident political parties that have been outlawed within Turkmenistan. Leaders of the exile-based RPT include Nurmuhammet Hanamow who went into exile in 2002 and Annadurdy Hajyýew, whose sister Ogulsapar Myradowa died in a Turkmen prison in September 2006. The latest opposition party, RPT operates in exile - since all opposition is banned within Turkmenistan, it was forced to form and operate from abroad.
Durdy Durdyýew is the Deputy Tourism and Sports Minister of Turkmenistan. On December 26, 2006, it was falsely announced he was nominated by the People's Council of Turkmenistan to be a candidate in the presidential election scheduled for February 11, 2007. Muhammetnazar Gurbanow, head of the Garabekewul district, was nominated instead.
The Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, founded in 1951, is the state body responsible for the implementation of Turkmen scientific and technical policy. The academy was closed under president Saparmurat Niyazov and reopened by his successor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Turkmen: Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow, Cyrillic: Сапармырат Атаевич Ныязов; 19 February 1940 – 21 December 2006; also known as Türkmenbaşy or Beýik Türkmenbaşy was a Turkmen politician who served as the leader of 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 d'état attempt. He continued to rule Turkmenistan for 15 years after independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Armenian-Turkmen relations refers to the bilateral diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkmenistan. Diplomatic relations on October 9, 1992. Armenia is represented in has in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and Turkmenistan has its embassy in Yerevan. The current Ambassador of Armenia to Turkmenistan is Vladimir Badalyan. The current Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Armenia is Mukhamedniaz Mashalov.
Presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan on 12 February 2012. They were Turkmenistan's fourth presidential elections and decided who would be the country's president for the next five years. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow won with 97% of the vote.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is the interior ministry of Turkmenistan. The ministry directly controls the Turkmen police force, consisting of about 25,000 personnel, and works with the Ministry for National Security on matters of law enforcement and defense of the country. The primary tasks of the police force include maintaining law and public security, crime prevention and investigation, passport control, road and fire safety, and international cooperation. They work with INTERPOL. The current minister is Mammetkhan Chakiyev. It was founded on February 19, 1998 by order of President Saparmurat Niyazov, who signed a decree “On the formation of the police of Turkmenistan”.
Presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan on 12 February 2017. This was Turkmenistan's fifth presidential election and decided who would be the country's president for the next seven years. Incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow won with more than 97% of the vote, similar to the results of the 2012 elections.
The title Hero of Turkmenistan is a state award of Turkmenistan. It was first awarded in 1992 and was awarded for service to the implementation of domestic and foreign policy.
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