Amendments to Tajik electoral legislation discussed

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DUSHANBE – A meeting in Dushanbe at the end of November, held within the framework of a project led by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), considered the issue of professional assistance for the conduct and reform of elections in Tajikistan.

According to Deputy President of the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan Shokirjon Hakimov the election legislation working group that held the meeting proposed that parliament consider adding three new articles to the law governing the election of deputies to local majlises (local elected authorities).

Members of the working group include representatives of the national parliament, the president’s department, the Community Council, the Central Committee for Elections and Referenda, all eight of the country’s official political parties and international experts.

“The new articles proposed could significantly improve electoral legislation and should bolster society’s confidence in the freeness, fairness and transparency of elections,” said Daniel Stoyanov, an IFES consultant in Tajikistan.

According to Communist Party member Subhon Safialoyev, amendments are necessary because 90 percent of Tajik voters do not know who the deputies are that represent them. He suggested that, “Deputies should provide voters with quarterly reports on their work,” to familiarise their constituents with the extent to which they are responding to their needs.

“We hope that the government will be amenable to the idea of amending the law on elections in view of its obligations to the international community and its bearing on efforts to attract investment in the national economy and recruit new leadership for Tajikistan’s political system,” Hakimov said.