On October 27 of this year, elections of deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, regional, city and district councils will be held in Uzbekistan. The election campaign started on July 26 and is held under the slogan "My choice is my prosperous Homeland." The main features of the upcoming electoral event and its impact on the domestic and foreign policy of the country were discussed by experts from the two countries at a round table organized by the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Yekaterinburg.
Director of the Diplomatic Academy at the UWED, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdusamat Khaidarov noted that the upcoming elections are held in accordance with the new version of the Constitution adopted at a national referendum. Early elections of the President of Uzbekistan were held last year, and this year – elections to parliament, legislative and representative authorities on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage. First of all, it should be borne in mind that the formation of new authorities will take place within the framework of a majority-proportional system, which provides for the active participation of both candidates and parties themselves and in conditions of a significant increase in the norms of parliamentarism. The E-Saylov information system, in fact, takes the conduct of elections to a completely new level in terms of technology and openness. The voting process itself, for the convenience of expression of will, will take place with the maximum degree of digitalization, and more than a thousand international observers will observe the election process, half of whom represent reputable international associations – the CIS, SCO, OTS and many others. There is no doubt that the upcoming elections will have a significant impact on the development of the political system and the pace of socio-economic growth of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Consul General of Uzbekistan in Yekaterinburg Jahongir Parmanov stressed that not only 150 deputies of the Legislative Chamber, but also 65 deputies of the Jokarga Kenes of Karakalpakstan, as well as deputies of regional, Tashkent and 208 district (city) Kengashes will be elected in the upcoming elections. Thus, about 30 thousand candidates and about 90 thousand of their proxies are expected to actively participate in the electoral process, as well as more than 120 thousand members of election commissions as organizers and over 70 thousand local and international observers. For the first time, the elections will be held on the basis of a majority-proportional or, as it is also called, a mixed system. The President of Uzbekistan proposed to switch to a mixed electoral system to enhance the role of political parties in March, meeting with deputies. And on May 8, Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on the introduction of a majority-proportional electoral system. In order for the elections to be successful here, in the Ural Federal District, a working group has been established on the basis of the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Yekaterinburg. In general, economic and humanitarian ties between the regions of the Ural Federal District and Uzbekistan are becoming stronger and larger every day – there is a constant exchange of delegations, business forums are held, a Trading house of Uzbekistan has been opened in Yekaterinburg, and now mutual visits for next year are being actively worked out. One of the elements of mutual cooperation is the holding of this "round table", which shows the importance not only of interregional economic cooperation, but also of expert dialogue between analytical centers of the two countries.
According to head of the Center for Global Studies and International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Vadim Kozyulin, the political system of Uzbekistan is characterized by a certain harmony. The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, consisting of 150 deputies, has the main functions of approving the budget, drafting and passing laws. The upper house of Parliament, the Senate, is a territorial representation body consisting of 65 members, nine of whom are appointed by the President from among the most respected and honored citizens.
It should be noted that the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who has the right of veto and a wide range of powers, is responsible for the implementation of laws and foreign policy. Russian political scientists are closely monitoring the ongoing changes and programs of political parties. There are five parties operating in the political space – the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party, the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the Adolat Social Democratic Party, the Environmental Party of Uzbekistan, and in the current realities of the majority-proportional system their role is radically increasing. According to Vadim Kozyulin, following the results of the elections, Uzbekistan will maintain its current foreign policy orientation – active participation in regional international organizations of the CIS and SCO with an eye to the course chosen by Shavkat Mirziyoyev for a comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, as noted in the joint Samarkand declaration in September 2022.
Chief researcher at the International Institute of Central Asia of the Republic of Uzbekistan Azizkhan Nazirov, agrees with him: "The ongoing elections to the national parliament, legislative and representative authorities really demonstrate a qualitatively new approach to the formation of the political system of Uzbekistan," the expert added. – And in this context, it also coincides with Uzbekistan’s approaches to relations with its closest neighbors, primarily with Russia. Uzbekistan is the largest country in Central Asia, trying to set a trend for sustainable development throughout the region and building a whole system of mutual cooperation. And the stronger Uzbekistan is, the more profitable it will be for our closest friends, including Russia."
Head of the Russian office of the International consulting company “Anyway Law” Master of Private Law of the Russian Federation, Andrey Sapegin, stressed that Uzbekistan is an advanced country in the field of electoral legislation – all election regulation is reflected in one law. There is no doubt that Russia will gradually come to a similar codification. The majority-proportional system of formation of legislative and representative power, as well as separate quotas for women, lead to an increase in the degree of democratization of society. Also, as an important aspect, it can be noted that the election results are determined by a simple majority of votes, eliminating the need for repeated rounds of elections.
Summing up the meeting, moderator of the round table, Director of the Center for European-Asian Studies Andrey Rusakov thanked all participants for their opinions and stressed the importance of expert dialogue between Uzbekistan and Russia. Thus, the course of strategic partnership between the two countries, announced by two presidents – Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vladimir Putin, is taking place not only in the format of economic cooperation, but also discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. It is important that both countries actively participate in the activities of such iconic integration associations as the SCO and the CIS, regularly "checking the clock" to coordinate mutual positions. The ongoing political reform in Uzbekistan significantly increases the role of political parties, which will also contribute to increasing the level of competition between various approaches to the strategic development of the country. There is no doubt that in the end this will serve to strengthen the role of Uzbekistan as a locomotive for the development of Central Asia and strengthen the strategic partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan.
