The Milli Gengesh (parliament) of Turkmenistan was transformed from a bicameral legislative body into the Mejlis, which has been the lower house of the Turkmen parliament since 2021. The upper chamber of the parliament, the Halk Maslakhaty, was reorganized into the "supreme body of people's power." Ex-president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov remains chairman of the Mejlis, Kommersant.ru reports.
“In connection with the creation of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan and vesting it with broad powers, including the consideration and approval of proposals for the adoption of the constitution of Turkmenistan and constitutional laws, making changes and additions to them, it was proposed to stop the work of the Halk Maskhalty of the National Council. The expediency of transforming the parliament, exercising legislative power in the country, into the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, consisting of one chamber, was noted,” the message on the website of the state agency Turkmenistan TDH says.
The meeting also secured the status of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as the national leader of Turkmenistan.
The Turkmen Parliament was reorganized from unicameral to bicameral on January 1, 2021. The Mezhdlis consists of 125 deputies elected for five years. According to the Freedom House think tank, legislative elections are tightly controlled by the executive branch, there is no real competition, and opposition candidates are not allowed to participate.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 23, 2023