Azernews.Az

The Majlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan at its regular meeting adopted a decision on the approval of the Electoral Code developed in accordance with international norms, the government of Turkmenistan reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Electoral Code regulates relations arising during the preparation and conduction of referendums, presidential elections, elections to Majlis, as well as to local self-government authorities: khalg maslahaty and gengeshs, arranging guarantees for the free expression of the will of citizens of Turkmenistan.

'According to the unanimous opinion of the parliamentarians, the adoption of this legislative act is intended to further promote the electoral rights of the citizens of the country as enshrined by the Constitution,' the report says.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) earlier consulted Turkmenistan on the issue of the development of a unified electoral code.

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted at a meeting with parliamentary members in February that the end of their term at the end of 2013 requires "the creation of a reliable basis for the parliamentarians of the next convocation, as well as holding elections of new parliamentarians at a highly organised and political level."

At least two parties, the Democratic Party and the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan created in the beginning of the year, will compete at the elections.

"It will give a powerful impetus to the campaign and allow voters to nominate the most worthy representatives to the legislative body of the country. I think that some of the current parliamentarians will be among the newly elected members of the Majlis. They must share their experience and accumulated knowledge with new parliamentarians," the president said.