The proposed revision of Uzbekistan’s constitution proposes extending the presidential term from five to seven years and indicates that people already in power “have the right to run multiple times.”
The former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan announced Wednesday that a constitutional referendum will be held at the end of April that could allow current President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to remain in power until 2040.
The proposed revision of the Uzbek constitution, published on Wednesday, proposes extending the presidential term from five to seven years and indicates that people already in power “have the right to run.” […] regardless of the number of consecutive terms” already exercised.
The new Constitution, which modifies two thirds of the current fundamental law, but maintains the limitation of two consecutive terms, will be submitted to a referendum on April 30 in the most populous country in Central Asiawith about 35 million inhabitants.
Coming to power in 2016, Mirzioev was re-elected for five years with more than 80% of the vote in October 2021, after a vote in which no real opponent could stand, according to international observers.
Uzbekistan votes in the presidential elections that should give an easy victory to Mirziyoyev
The constitutional revision would allow Mirzioev, 65, to run in 2026 and, if re-elected, remain in power until 2033, or until 2040 if re-elected.
Mirzoev, who was prime minister for 13 years, became head of state after the death of his predecessor, Islam Karimov, who ruled for 27 years.
Validated almost unanimously by both houses of parliament, the revision project still intends to make Uzbekistan a “social state” where “the human being, his life, his freedom, His honor and dignity are the supreme values”.
The constitutional change that sought to reduce the autonomy of the republic of Karakalpakstan, a desert region of Uzbekistan and one of the poorest in the country, was abandoned.
The proposal to reduce autonomy led to demonstrations in Karakalpakstan on July 1 and 2, 2022, the repression of which officially caused the death of 21 people. The authorities also imposed a state of emergency and blocked internet access in the region.
Uzbekistan is ranked 149 of the “Democracy Index” of The Economist magazine (2022) which integrates a total of 167 countries and is considered an authoritarian regime. In the last year, the country moved up one position in the index.
Source: Observadora
