Turkmen Election to Exclude Opposition

The interim administration in Turkmenistan is likely to disappoint the international community by excluding opposition parties from presidential elections scheduled for February 11, say NBCentralAsia analysts.



In advance of the poll, there have been calls from abroad to include all political players in the formation of a new government.



A US State Department spokesman told journalists that Washington was ready to help if the present leaders of Turkmenistan “would like to move toward political process that would include all the voices of the … political spectrum”.



The State Department was likely referring to Hudaiberdy Orazov, leader of the Vatan [Motherland] movement, and Nurberdy Nurmamedov, head of the Arzybirliu [Unity] party, both of whom have been nominated as representatives of the Turkmen opposition.



But observers say their chance of actually participating is minimal.



For the last 15 years, the only legal party has been the Democratic [formerly Communist] Party of Turkmenistan – membership of which is compulsory for all officials. Its main activity has been spreading the party line of the ruling elite.



Acting president Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov was nominated by the Democratic Party as a presidential candidate. The remaining five candidates, including four city and regional officials and the deputy minister of the oil and gas industry, are all members of the Democratic Party.



Most opposition parties and movements are located abroad, operate secretly and do not take part in either political or public life.



Vyacheslav Mamedov, leader of the Democratic Civil Union, has pushed for the legalisation of other political groups.“[It] will give impetus to the creation of new parties and movements for democratic development,” he said.



Though shortly before his death, President Saparmurat Niazov hinted that he might allow other parties to emerge, observers say this is unlikely to happen. Some suggest that instead of a multi-party system, groups loyal to the authorities will be formed to give the appearance of plurality to the outside world.



“From the legal point of view, such parties can fully correspond to the international notions of democracy, since their essence will not be analysed,” said Mamedov.



(News Briefing Central Asia draws comment and analysis from a broad range of political observers across the region)