On June 25, the Senate of Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis approved a landmark bill aimed at expanding the rights and powers of the parliamentary opposition. The initiative, which now awaits presidential approval, is designed to enhance political pluralism and strengthen parliamentary oversight in the country, Gazeta.uz reports.
The new legislation grants opposition parties in the Legislative Chamber the right to propose alternative versions of draft laws before their first reading, as well as before the adoption of draft resolutions. Additionally, opposition factions can officially record dissenting opinions during plenary sessions and are guaranteed representation in reconciliation commissions convened to review bills previously rejected by the Senate.
The bill introduces a set of new rights for party factions that declare themselves as part of the parliamentary opposition. Among these are the right to hold one committee chairmanship and two deputy chairmanships within the Legislative Chamber. The opposition will also have the right to submit alternative proposals to legislation ahead of the second reading and to raise at least one issue quarterly during “government hour” or through parliamentary inquiries.
This legal reform follows a speech made by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on November 18, 2024, where he proposed increasing the number of guaranteed rights for the parliamentary opposition from three to six. “In the new era, the parliament must become a true home of the people, with its lower house serving as a generator of ideas, a forum of healthy competition, discussion, and debate,” the president stated.
The bill introduces amendments to six legal acts, including the constitutional laws “On the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis” and “On Increasing the Role of Political Parties in Governance,” as well as the laws “On Parliamentary Oversight,” “On Political Parties,” and others. According to the bill’s authors, the legislation was developed based on the experience of approximately 20 countries, including Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Portugal.
Senator Zumrad Bekatova, speaking on the bill, emphasized its importance for improving the quality of legislative work and enhancing public trust in the parliament. “By guaranteeing more rights to the opposition, we are encouraging greater diversity of views and strengthening the role of political competition,” she noted.
The parliamentary landscape in Uzbekistan saw a major shift in May when the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (PDPU) officially declared itself as the parliamentary opposition. This came after the UzLiDeP (Liberal Democratic Party) and the Democratic Party “Milliy Tiklanish” formed a joint “Progressive Bloc,” creating a de facto parliamentary majority.
As an opposition party, the PDPU has pledged to critically assess government initiatives and voice alternative viewpoints. Party leader Ulugbek Inoyatov also stated that the PDPU is ready to develop and propose alternative legislation when necessary, particularly in cases where government-backed bills do not reflect the interests of their constituents.
The promotion of constructive opposition has been a recurring theme in President Mirziyoyev’s statements. In his July 2023 inaugural address, he reaffirmed his commitment to guaranteeing the role of the opposition. As early as 2019, he had expressed the view that genuine opposition should emerge from within society — from those who understand and share the experiences of the people.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 26, 2025