Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Reuters File Photo
Uzbekistan's ruling party, loyal to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, secured victory in the weekend election, as preliminary results revealed on Monday. This outcome was expected in the tightly-controlled Central Asian nation. Under Mirziyoyev's leadership since 2016, Uzbekistan has seen economic and social reforms, yet the regime remains authoritarian. Mirziyoyev's Liberal Democratic Party claimed 64 out of 150 parliamentary seats, with voter turnout reaching 74.72 percent, according to the Uzbek electoral commission. The election was devoid of genuine opposition, with only five parties, all aligned with the president, participating. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which monitored the vote, noted the lack of a 'genuine choice' in the election.
An advertising screen announcing Uzbekistan's legislative elections seen at Tashkent's Chorsu Bazaar on Sunday. AFP
'Despite ongoing reforms, fundamental freedoms remain disproportionately limited both by legislation and in practice,' the organization stated. It also highlighted that the media was 'limited by restrictions on free expression, resulting in minimal access for voters to diverse viewpoints.' However, the OSCE positively noted that 'women were well represented among candidates and in election administration.' Uzbekistan, a gas-rich former Soviet republic in Central Asia with around 35 million people, has seen Mirziyoyev pursue a policy of openness since succeeding longtime dictator Islam Karimov. However, rights groups have criticized Tashkent for not allowing opposition to the government. Alisher Ilkhamov of the Central Asia Due Diligence group described the elections as a 'routine procedure' that 'allowed no place for institutional opposition and a real division of power.' For the first time, proportional representation was used in the vote, with authorities aiming to 'strengthen the influence of political parties.'
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