Turkmen parliamentary election, 2013

Turkmenistani parliamentary election, 2013

15 December 2013 (2013-12-15)
All 125 seats to the Assembly of Turkmenistan 63 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Kasymguly Babaev Ovezmammed Mammedov Party TDP PIE Leader since 18 August 2013 21 August 2012 Last election 125 New Seats before 124 1 Seats won 47 14 Seat change –78 +14

Turkmenistan
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Turkmenistan
Constitution President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow Cabinet Assembly Speaker: A. Nurberdiýewa State Security Council Political parties Democratic Party Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Recent elections Presidential: 2012 2017 Parliamentary: 2013 2018 Administrative divisions Region Districts Foreign relations Human rights Ruhnama
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Parliamentary elections were held in Turkmenistan on 15 December 2013.^[1][2] Although they were the first multi-party elections in the country's history, both contesting parties claimed loyalty to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.^[3] The ruling Democratic Party emerged as the largest faction in the Assembly with 47 of the 125 seats, losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence. The elections were criticized by the OSCE, Amnesty International, and opposition groups such as the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights.^[4] Farid Tukhbatulin of the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights said that there was little difference between the two major parties, arguing that neither truly represented opposition groups.^[4]

Background

A new law on political parties was adopted in January 2012, with the government claiming it would make it easier for new parties to be formed to challenge the ruling Democratic Party.^[5] Subsequently the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs was established in August 2012.^[6]

Campaign

A total of 283 candidates registered to contest the 125 seats in the Assembly. The Democratic Party put forward 99 candidates, the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs nominated 28 candidates, whilst a further 163 were fielded by groups including a women's union, trade unions and a youth union.^[7]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic Party			47
	Organisation of Trade Unions of Turkmenistan			33
	Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs			14
	Women's Union of Turkmenistan			16
	Magtymguly Youth Organisation			8
	Citizen Groups			7
Invalid/blank votes			–	–
Total		2,797,637	100	125
Registered voters/turnout			91.33	–
Source: Government of Turkmenistan

References