| Election in Turkmenistan |
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| World Affairs Talk | |
| Wednesday, 16 May 2007 | |
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Turkmenistan began to vote on February 11, 2007. The final results are expected by Wednesday the 14th February. The United States, Europe and China are watching the election closely and also are keen to see Turkmenistan's gas flow along new routes beside the Soviet-era pipeline that allows only Russia to benefit as it purchases gas below market prices. The election came about two months after the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov, who died from heart failure in December 2006 at 66 and left no successor. The legislative body of the country passed a constitutional amendment afterwards, allowing Deputy Prime Minister Gurbungali Berdymukhamedov to serve as the country's acting president for 60 days. Berdymukhamedov, 49, who is also one of the six presidential candidates, has promised the election would be held on a democratic basis. The other five contenders are Ishanguly Nuryyev, 51, deputy minister of oil and gas; Ashyrniyaz Pomanov, 44, mayor of Turkmenbashi city; Karabekaul district chief Mukhammednazar Gurbanov; Orazmyrad Garadzhayev, 46, mayor of Abadan town; and Amanyaz Atadzhikov, 59, deputy governor of northern Dashoguz Region. Acting president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, a longtime aide to former president-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov, is highly predicted to trounce his five opponents. Located on the southeastern coast of the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, rich in oil and gas resources, has an area of 488,100 square km which borders Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Kazakhstan. It is a multi-ethnic country with Turkmens as the largest ethnic group. Some 90 percent of the country's 5.2 million population are Muslims. The country declared its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991 and joined the United Nations in 1992. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe did not send an election-monitoring mission to cover the election, nor did the Commonwealth of Independent States. There is only a symbolic international observer presence for the election with few diplomats; access for foreign journalists is highly restricted. The strongest contestant Berdymukhamedov during campaign, praised his formal boss Niyazov but vowed to reverse some unpopular policies of the “Great Leader”, despite his own role in implementing those at the first place. The 49-year-old trained dentist cum politician promised to provide Turkmens access to Internet, extend school and university provision and improve health services. Human rights groups however say that the country has a large number of political prisoners inside several jails mostly whom had opposed Berdymukhamedov earlier. Analysts caution that the depth of Niyazov's legacy on Berdymukhamedov means any reforms could be very sluggish. Authorities in Turkmenistan said that over 98 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the election. Russia's RIA-Novosti news agency on the other hand quoted an exiled opposition figure “We have quite enough evidence from Turkmenistan confirming that voters were much less active than claimed by the Central Electoral Commission”. Any changes in its foreign and trade relations of the country will have a deep significance on the world energy markets, and especially on Russia and China. If Berdymukhamedov come out as winner than Turkmenistan less likely will see any major change both on domestic and foreign policy but any of the other five candidates will surely try to come out of the former ruler Saparmurat Niyazov’s shadow and will open up its economy at a bigger pace. Share & Bookmark             |
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