Parliamentary elections have commenced in Turkmenistan, an authoritarian country known for its abundant natural gas reserves and a lack of political diversity or independent media. This marks the first election since the new president took office via hereditary succession in the previous year, and follows the elimination of the upper house of the legislature and the establishment of a supreme governing body.
According to an AFP correspondent stationed in Ashgabat, the country’s capital, polling stations opened at 7:00 AM local time (02:00 GMT) and will remain open until 7:00 PM (14:00 GMT). However, the country’s strict political atmosphere suggests that little change is expected in terms of government representation.
Turkmenistan: One of the World’s Most Repressive States Ruled by Single Family for Two Decades
Turkmenistan, a nation that was once part of the Soviet Union, is notorious for being one of the world’s most secretive and repressive states, with very little information available about the government’s day-to-day decision-making processes. The country has been governed by a single family for almost 20 years, and Western poll observers have not deemed any elections as free or fair.
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, a former dentist and health minister, took over as president in 2006 following the passing of Saparmurat Niyazov, the nation’s founding president. The Berdymukhamedov family has been in power since then, maintaining an iron grip on the country and suppressing political opposition and media freedom.
Berdymukhamedov’s Cult of Personality in Turkmenistan; Continues to Hold Power in New “People’s Council”
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who established a strong cult of personality during his time as president, passed on the leadership to his son Serdar after a token snap election last year. However, Berdymukhamedov senior retained his position as chair of the upper house of parliament.
Earlier this year, the 65-year-old proposed the elimination of the upper house – which he had established at his request in 2021 – and the establishment of a “People’s Council” or “Halk Maslahaty,” a supreme representative body of people’s power. Berdymukhamedov senior was named as the head of this new council, and experts believe that he still wields significant power in the country.
