Photo: VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / AFP
Eurasia Center/ Szabolcs Veres
26/10/2024 08:30
On 27 October 2024, Uzbek voters will cast their ballots for the 150-member legislative chamber, the Olej Mazhlis lower house. They will also elect representatives to the 12 regional councils, the Tashkent City Council, and 208 district councils. In addition, citizens of the Karakalpakstan Autonomous Region will elect 65 representatives to the Supreme Council of the Karakalpakstan Autonomous Republic. The previous parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan were held in two rounds (late December 2019 and early January 2020), with UzLiDep winning the most seats (53 out of 150) and Milliy Tiklanish, Adolat, O'zXDP and the Ecological Party sharing the rest.
Collection of signatures
According to Article 68 of the Uzbek Electoral Law, a political party can stand as a candidate if it has collected at least 40,000 signatures of MPs supporting its participation in the elections. As approved by the Uzbek Central Election Commission's Decision No 1354 of 26 July 2024, political parties had until 17 August 2024 to submit the relevant documents.
Five parties - the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Milli Tiklani Democratic Party, People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Adolat Social Democratic Party and Ecological Party - participated in the collection of signatures for the Uzbek elections.
Why is it important to collect signatures?
Firstly, the collection of signatures to participate in the Uzbek parliamentary elections is a key stage in the electoral process, which plays an important role in confirming whether a political party has real support among the population.
Secondly, this process encourages parties to actively engage with eligible citizens, to engage in a closer dialogue with them and to take their views into account when developing their electoral programmes.
The election was marked by constitutional reforms and liberalisation
Since taking power in 2016, President Mirziyoyev has introduced comprehensive reforms aimed at liberalising the economy, strengthening the rule of law and opening up the political system. These efforts have been accelerated by the adoption of a new constitution in 2023, which expanded parliamentary powers and introduced a mixed electoral system combining majority and proportional representation.
However, these reforms are not without their challenges. As the government seeks to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic growth, it must also face up to public demands for deeper social reforms. The reform process that has begun in Uzbekistan has created certain challenges, such as the need to guarantee equality and implement targeted social programmes, and to fight corruption and the shadow economy.
What political forces are at play in the Uzbek elections?
Several weeks before the elections, the Uzbek Central Election Commission confirmed that five political parties will participate in the upcoming elections. Although these parties have different ideological perspectives, they have one defining and common point, namely that they are all committed to continuing the reforms initiated by President Mirziyoyev, although it is worth adding that they have different priorities.
Main political forces
People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Xalq Demokratik Partiyasi, O'zXDP) - Historically rooted in the political life of Uzbekistan, the PDPU is often seen as the successor to the former Soviet Communist Party. The party focuses on social welfare and represents the interests of the lower strata of Uzbek society. Despite its traditional values, the party has adapted its rhetoric to the economic and social reforms introduced by the current government. Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party (Oʻzbekiston Liberal Demokratik Partiyasi, O'zLiDeP) - The ruling party of Uzbekistan, O'zLiDeP, led by the incumbent president Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is considered the dominant force in Uzbekistan. The party is basically seen as a progressive reformist party, promoting liberal economic reforms, entrepreneurship and enterprise and industrial development as the driving force for economic modernisation of the country. In its election manifesto, the O'zLiDeP targets mainly the middle class of Uzbek society. Social Democratic Party, Adolat (Adolat - Sotsial-Demokratik Partiyasi) - Adolat focuses on voters with a social democratic orientation and promotes the principles of greater equality and social justice. The party supports the strengthening of the welfare state and the protection of the rights of workers and the marginalized sections of Uzbek society. Adolat seeks a balance between liberal economic reforms and policies that address social inequalities and promote democratic reforms. Democratic Party of National Revival (Oʻzbekiston "Milliy Tiklanish" Demokratik Partiyasi, OʻzMTDP or Milliy Tiklanish) - A national conservative party focused on preserving Uzbekistan's cultural heritage, traditions and national identity. In addition to supporting political and economic reform, Milliy Tiklanish focuses on traditional voters with national sentiments, emphasizing the protection of Uzbekistan's historical, cultural and national values against modernization. Ecological Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston ekologik partiyasi, O'EP) - The new Ecological Party of Uzbekistan (O'EP) is a new political party in Uzbekistan whose program focuses on environmental issues that are of growing concern in a country struggling with climate change and environmental degradation. The party resonates most with young urban voters, who are increasingly focused on sustainability and environmental protection.
Interesting facts about the election
According to the Uzbek Central Election Commission, the candidates are significantly younger than in previous elections. The average age of potential legislative chamber representatives is 47.2 years, while the average age of candidates for seats at other levels is 44.4 years. 90.3% of candidates have a university degree. Within this group, teachers make up the largest group of candidates, accounting for around 27.9% of all candidates for parliamentary seats. However, almost half of the candidates are women (42.5%).
The outlook before the elections
Expectations are that the 2024 Uzbek elections will be the event that decides the direction of the Central Asian country's vision for the future. The international community is also closely following the process, and the presence of international observers, including Hungarians, underlines that these elections are important not only for Uzbekistan but also for the country. At the same time, the successful conduct and outcome of the elections could further legitimize the reforms and consolidate the country's foreign policy toward the opening up that it had begun earlier. One of the most significant challenges for the Uzbek elections on 27 October 2024 is likely to be the ability of opposition parties to organize effectively and assert their influence in the Uzbek political arena. While all parties support the reform process initiated by President Mirziyoyev, there remain significant differences in the interpretation of how they envisage its implementation. These different perspectives will shape Uzbekistan's future political and economic situation. However, the parliamentary elections on 27 October represent a key moment for Uzbekistan and a decisive step in the reform process initiated by President Mirziyoyev. Moreover, at the international level, the elections will also test the democratic maturity of the Uzbek political system.
The author is a researcher at the Eurasia Center