Status: 01.05.2023 2:11 p.m
Actually, 2026 would be the end for President Mirsijoyev – but a change in the constitution now enables him to extend his term of office massively. A large majority voted in favor of the reform. Criticism comes from the OSCE.
In Uzbekistan, the way is clear for President Shawkat Mirsiyoyev to become the long-standing head of state. According to official figures, more than 90 percent of those who took part voted in a referendum in favor of constitutional reform. As a result, Mirsijoyev could remain at the helm of the former Soviet republic until 2040.
The new constitution had previously been passed by the lower and upper houses. It will extend the current legislative period from five to seven years. It remains the case that a president can only rule for two terms. However, the reform will set Mirsiyoyev’s previous term of office to zero. In addition, he can also compete in the next election in 2026.
With a similar approach, Russia’s President Putin secured the possibility of an otherwise unconstitutional re-election in 2021.
Hardly any criticism of the reform
In the amended constitution, the Central Asian country is declared a welfare state. In doing so, it commits itself to increased services for poorer citizens. The death penalty is abolished. The extension of democratic principles in the constitution was a demand of Uzbek civil rights activists. There was little resistance to the reform, particularly to the expansion of presidential powers.
Mirsiyoyev has been President of Uzbekistan since 2016. The 65-year-old rules the country in an authoritarian manner. In recent years he has opened up the country’s economy and improved relations with the West. In addition, the powers of the security services were curtailed under him.
OSCE criticizes the vote
Election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) criticized the referendum. Among other things, there was no “real pluralism and true competition”. Even if reforms have been initiated, “there is still a long way to go before fundamental rights are respected”.
