Tajikistan amends constitution to extend Rakhmon's rule

Record ID: 102339

  • Title: Tajikistan amends constitution to extend Rakhmon's rule
  • Date: 23rd May 2016
  • Summary: DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN (MAY 22, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ELECTION OFFICIALS CARRYING BALLOT BOX TOWARDS TABLE HAND UNSEALING BALLOT BOX ELECTION OFFICIALS TURNING OVER BALLOT BOX VARIOUS OF ELECTION OFFICIALS COUNTING BALLOTS DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN (MAY 23, 2016) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE BY TAJIKISTAN CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHAIRMAN OF CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION, BAKHTIER KHODOERZODA, SAYING: "Number of citizens who directly participated in the all-people's referendum was 4,380,183 persons, which equals 92 percent of total votes." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHAIRMAN OF CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION, BAKHTIER KHODOERZODA, SAYING: "The Central Commission on Elections and Referendums counted votes 'for' and 'against' given to the question in the referendum and here are the preliminary results: 'for': 3.814.477 persons or 94. 5 percent; 'against': 134.171 or 3.3 percent." PEOPLE LISTENING DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN (MAY 22, 2016) (REUTERS) BUILDING IN CENTRAL DUSHANBE WITH PRESIDENT IMOMALI RAKHMON'S PORTRAIT ON IT RAKHMON'S PORTRAIT DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN (MAY 23, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Tajik) MUKOMMADULLO, DUSHANBE RESIDENT, SAYING: "All people agree (with referendum results), all people are happy. I've discussed it with my friends and they all are happy." (SOUNDBITE) (Tajik) MEKHRANGES, STUDENT FROM DUSHANBE, SAYING: "I took part in yesterday's referendum. I think everyone was satisfied with it, no one said anything against it. Those who came (to vote), were all happy." (SOUNDBITE) (Tajik) UVAIDO, DUSHANBE RESIDENT, SAYING: "Yes, we agree (with referendum results). We are for peace and accord. It is good that the Tajikistan constitution is developing." DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN (MAY 22, 2016) (REUTERS) PRESIDENTIAL PALACE TAJIK FLAG
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2016 10:07
  • Keywords: Tajikistan referendum Rakhmon results
  • Location: DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN
  • City: DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN
  • Country: Tajikistan
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014J12VD3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Tajikistan's president Imomali Rakhmon will be able to run for an unlimited number of terms after a series of constitutional amendments were backed in a weekend referendum.
    The changes won support of 94.5 percent of voters, Central Election Commission chairman Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda told reporters on Monday (May 23) citing preliminary results, adding that turnout was 92 percent.
    The amendments will allow Rakhmon, head of state since 1992 and president since 1994, to run again when his current term ends in 2020.
    The minimum age for presidential candidates was also lowered, so Rakhmon's elder son Rustam could also run at that time.
    Rakhmon enjoys sweeping powers amid a flourishing personality cult, and few doubted that referendum results would show landslide popular support for the proposed amendments.
    He keeps a tight lid on dissent, and his power was strengthened last year when the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) was banned after the government accused it of being behind an attempted coup.
    A third major change approved by the referendum was a ban on religious political parties, which will prevent the IRPT from being reformed under a new guise.
    Tajikistan, the poorest former Soviet republic, is mostly Muslim and its economy depends heavily on Russia, which is in recession. Moscow maintains a military base in the country which borders volatile Afghanistan.
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