President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that he had signed a decree on holding early elections for the head of state, according to his Telegram channel.
Shortly before this, Mirziyoyev signed a constitutional law allowing the head of state to call early presidential elections. This will be the first presidential election since the constitution was amended to extend the term of office of the head of state from five to seven years. Under constitutional law, incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is in office for a second term, can run for office again.
"Using the powers granted to the president of the country by article 128 of the updated constitution, I signed a second important decree. According to it, the presidential elections in our country will be held ahead of schedule," Mirziyoyev said during a meeting with the heads of the chambers of parliament, political parties, judicial and executive authorities, as well as members of the public. The video of the speech of the head of state is posted on the Telegram channel of the President of Uzbekistan.
Mirziyoyev was elected president of Uzbekistan in a snap election in December 2016, three months after the death of the first head of state, Islam Karimov, who had ruled the republic since 1989. In October 2021, Mirziyoyev won the presidential election again with 80.12% of the vote.
A referendum on the new Constitution of Uzbekistan was held on April 30, where more than 90% of voters supported the new Constitution.
The updated Constitution, Mirziyoyev believes, sets new tasks for each of the branches of power.
Changes also made to the Electoral Code of Uzbekistan provide that early presidential elections appointed by the president must take place within two months after the announcement, that is, on July 9, 2023.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 8, 2023