POLITICAL PARTIES REACT TO RAHMONOV'S WIN

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002044 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TI SUBJECT: POLITICAL PARTIES REACT TO RAHMONOV'S WIN ¶1. (U) Tajik president Emomali Rahmonov won 79.3 percent of the vote in the November 6 election. Although his popularity is genuine among the people, opposition parties remain vocal in criticizing the election and will continue to express dissatisfaction with the current president and call him illegitimate. ¶2. (U) The Democratic Party of Tajikistan and the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan did not recognize the results of the election, as they had announced prior to the election when both groups decided to boycott the process. The Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan considers the election illegal and unconstitutional. This has been the center of the party's platform and grounds for it to boycott the election. The chairman of the party, Rahmatullo Zoyirov, is the country's preeminent constitutional lawyer. He dismissed international observers saying the question of whether or not the election was transparent and democratic does not matter. He argued that the legitimacy of the election is a judicial issue that must be settled by the court system. ¶3. (U) Four members of Iskandarov's faction of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan were arrested two days prior to the election for demonstrating in front of the Ministry of Justice. Deputy Chairman Valiev disagreed with the demonstration and told embassy sources that party members were ill-advised. Protests and demonstrations are illegal in Tajikistan, but the group was told that demonstrating was not punishable. The members' arrests add to the party's woes over its split into two different factions and overshadows the party's post-election goals. ¶4. (U) The Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan sent a limited number of observers to polling stations and members participated on some election commissions throughout Tajikistan. The party criticized the election for violations and questioned the high 91 percent voter turnout. The IRPT will issue a report based on its observers' findings and announce whether it will recognize Rahmonov's win. RAHMONOV'S "OPPONENTS" CONGRATULATE HIM ¶5. (U) Not surprisingly, all four presidential candidates who ran against Rahmonov from what are considered "pocket parties" congratulated the president on his victory. The Party of Economic Reforms chairman was happy his party received the second highest number of votes, despite being a young party, less than one year old. All parties expressed satisfaction with the results and voting process. None pointed out any irregularities at the polls, although the Communist Party had expected to receive more votes. ¶6. (U) In addition to the political parties, local newspapers report that leaders from Russia, China, Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Turkey have already delivered congratulatory messages to President Rahmonov and pledged bilateral cooperation. JACOBSON