Today, the regular meeting of the Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan devoted to issues of upcoming elections of deputies of the Mejlis of the seventh convocation, members of the Khalk Maslakhaty in velayats, etraps and cities of the fifth convocation, members of gengeshes of the ninth convocation, was held. Members of the Central elections commission, representatives of working groups, created at the Central elections commission, responsible workers of political parties and pubic organizations and mass media took part in the meeting.

The agenda of the meeting included a number of issues concerning the upcoming elections. In particular, in accordance with the resolution of the Mejlis of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan, this important socio-political action is planned for March 26, 2023.

The Central elections commission approved the calendar of the plan of events for preparation and conduction of elections. According to the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, by the resolution of the Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan the start of the elections campaign was announced on January 16, 2023. Nomination of candidates will start 60 days prior to the day of elections.

By the resolution of the Central elections commission 125 constituencies were created for election of deputies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, in particular, in Ashgabat – 17, Akhal velayat - 16, Balkan velayat – 10, Dashoguz velayat – 27, Lebap velayat – 26, Mary velayat – 29 constituencies. Data on numeration, names, centners and boundaries of these constituencies will be published in the central and local print media.

In connection with termination of a five-year tenure of electoral commissions of constituencies and gengeshliks, in accordance with the Electoral Code of Turkmenistan, electoral commission of constituencies for election of deputies of the Mejlis as well as electoral commissions of cities in etraps, settlements and gengeshliks for election of members of gengeshes were set up.

Political parties, public organizations and groups of citizens nominated representatives to elections commissions. So, 125 electoral commissions of constituencies and 572 electoral commissions of cities and etraps, settlements and gengeshliks were set up.

For election of members of the Khalk Maslakhaty in velayats 240 constituencies were set up, 40 in each velayat and Ashgabat city. For election of members of the Khalk Maslakhaty 20 constituencies were set up in each etrap and city - a total of 980: in Akhal velayat – 160, Balkan velayat – 180, Dashoguz velayat – 160, Lebap velayat – 180, Mary velayat – 220, in Ashgabat city – 80 constituencies.

Within the framework of the meeting, its participants discussed organizational issues of the upcoming campaign, during which both national observers from political parties and pubic organizations and international experts and observers will follow. In particular, necessary documents, including guidance, booklets, various materials for observers and citizens of our country were approved and training seminars for members of separate electoral commissions are planned.

Participants of the meeting outlined that openness and wide alternativeness of elections should sever the foremost task. In this connection, importance of intensification of events on explanation of population the essence and goals of creative home and foreign policy of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov relied large scale state programs and political and democratic transformations was underlined.

The information of heads of velayat and Ashgabat city electoral commission on preparation for the upcoming elections as well as organization of events at different levels where the main role is given to explanatory work among population was also delivered. As was pointed out, a special responsibility lies upon electoral commissions and accurate and well-coordinated work of which the success of this important public and political action depends much.

Having underlined that election of deputies of the Mejlis, members of the Khalk Maslakhaty and gengeshes will become a regular significant step on the path of deepening of democratic processes serving a reliable ground for successful realization of progressive reforms, members of the electoral commissions assured that they will make all efforts for conduction of the elections campaign at the highest level.

In the meeting of the Central Commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan other organizational issues were also considered and relevant decisions were made.