Turkmenistan accomplishes registration of presidential candidates
By Kamila Aliyeva
The registration of candidates ahead of the upcoming presidential elections in Turkmenistan which will take place on February 12, 2017 is complete, the country's Central Election Commission reported on Wednesday.
Nine candidates were officially registered.
The election campaign begins from the date of registration of the presidential candidate and ends one day prior to Election Day.
The registered candidates for the highest office, in accordance with the national electoral legislation and international law, are provided with equal rights and opportunities for the organization of meetings with voters, appearances on TV, radio and also in print media.
According to the electoral legislation, the presidential candidates have the right to be provided with free airtime on state television and radio channels. The total amount of daily allocated free airtime should not be less than one hour. This free airtime is distributed between the candidates on equal terms.
For the first time in the history three political parties will participate in the presidential election campaign, which have already decided on the candidates. The Democratic Party nominated the current head of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, State Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs - the chairman of the Commercial Bank "Rysgal" Begmyrat Atalyeva, the Agrarian Party - Chairman of the Mary velayat (region) Committee Durdygylycha Orazov.
Six citizens' initiatives were formed during the election campaign. They nominated the candidacies of Maksat Annanepesov, vice-president of the State Association of Food Industry, Jumanazar Annan's deputy governor of the Mary velayat (region), Durdiyev Ramadan, director of the Seydi oil refinery, Meretdurdy Gurbanov, deputy governor of Dashoguz province, Serdar Dzhelilov, Head of the Department of Economy and Development of Akhal province, Suleymannepes Nurnepesov, General Director of Garabogazsulfat.
According to the Electoral code, a candidate for the President of Turkmenistan for the period of the election campaign on the basis of the decision of the Central Election Commission can suspend industrial or servicing duties with the average wage.
In accordance with the national electoral legislation, to be nominated for the presidency the candidate should be a citizen, born in Turkmenistan, aged above 40 years, speak the state language, and live and work permanently in the country over the last 15 years.
The current president of Turkmenistan, 59-year-old Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov headed the country since 2007. In 2012 he was re-elected for a new term.
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