Turkmenistan holds local government elections

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, August 19 / Trend H.Hasanov Additional elections for local authorities - members of etrap (district), khalg maslahaty (national councils) and gengeshs (local councils) of Turkmenistan were held in the country, the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of Turkmenistan reported. According to the message, the elections were related to the emergence of the newly formed etraps (regions) in the administrative structure of Ashgabat. These are the Ruhabat and Abadan etraps. The elections to the gengeshs (local councils) of the Derweze district of the Akhal velayat region are also considered to have been held. Some 20 electoral districts were formed in each of the above mentioned etraps for the election of members of the khalg maslahaty, and nine electoral districts were formed in Derweze etrap for the election of members of gengeshs. "On popular mandate on equal terms in 69 electoral districts 139 candidates have balloted", the report says. Nominations of candidates were carried out on a competitive basis. Monitoring of the electoral process was carried out by national observers. Careful vote counting continues. In May 2013, a new Electoral Code came into the force in Turkmenistan. The Code regulates relations arising for the preparation and holding of presidential elections, elections of deputies to the Majlis (parliament), members of the local self-government bodies - khalg maslahaty and gengeshs, as well as referendums and establishes safeguards that ensure the free expression of the will of Turkmen citizens. Consultations were provided by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in the development of a unified election code.