TURKMENISTAN: ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN TALKS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001471

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN TALKS
ABOUT DECEMBER MEJLIS ELECTIONS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: POLOFF met with Central Election
Commission (CEC) Chairman Murat Garriyev to discuss the
commission's current activities in advance of the December 14
Mejlis (parliamentary) elections. He described some of the
changes that occurred as a result of the revised Mejlis
(parliament) election law. Garriyev talked about candidate
nomination and registration, although both processes are far
from transparent, and discussed some of the plans the
commission is making for election day. Both Garriyev's
comments and the new election law indicate that district
election commissions are key gatekeepers that decide who will
be approved to run as a candidate. Garriyev suggested that
few, if any, current deputies will likely be nominated, much
less re-elected. END SUMMARY.

WHAT'S CHANGED


2. (SBU) Garriyev outlined some of the changes brought
about by the new Mejlis election law that the commission is
implementing. He said this will be the first year that
polling stations will be available in all 27 Turkmen
embassies abroad to permit expatriates to vote.
Establishment of the additional 75 constituent districts
(previously numbering 50, per the number of deputies elected
in 2004) and their election commissions has also taken place
recently. To resolve the issue of this increase in
districts, he said the commission had, in most cases, simply
divided the previous districts in half.

NOMINATIONS


3. (SBU) On November 1, organizations and groups began
submitting candidate nominations. Garriyev said that
although he couldn't say how many nominations had been
received thus far, the commission expected to receive two or
three nominations for each constituent district. He knew of
only two or three incumbent Mejlis deputies who wanted to be
re-elected. He admitted that the CEC would be notified of
nominations, but denied the CEC would have input on them.
Commenting on the type of people he expects to be nominated,
he indicated that a male candidate should be a respected
member of his community, and should have fulfilled compulsory
military duty in his youth.


4. (SBU) A female candidate should have a good reputation,
be married, and have at least one child. If she has no
children or just one child, she should be able to say that
"this is what God gave her". If she has grown children,
their reputations should positively reflect on her, since she
managed their upbringing. The chairman said that a person of
any ethnicity could be a candidate, as long as he is a
citizen of Turkmenistan. When asked if possessing dual
citizenship affected a person's qualifications, he said that
dual citizenship is not possible in Turkmenistan.


5. (SBU) So far, there has been little information
regarding the process by which candidates are being
nominated. On November 4, state television news reported
that unspecified meetings on the nomination of candidates
were held in Ashgabat and Ahal province. It added that in
Balkan province, registration of nominated candidates had
already begun, which was 15 days before the registration
period was to begin as described by law. On November 5, as
well, local television reported that nomination meetings had
gotten under way in Lebap and Ahal provinces.


6. (SBU) District election commissions are to accept
nominations of candidates from October 31 through November
14, according to the law. The district election commissions
are also empowered, according to the law, to register
nominees, the final step in confirming their official
candidacy. According to the law, registration should begin
on November 9 and continue through November 19. Published

ASHGABAT 00001471 002 OF 002


information on the candidates will likely appear anytime on
or after November 9.

CAMPAIGNING


7. (SBU) Garriyev indicated that the commission would not
know about candidates' campaign activities, because neither
the CEC nor district election commissions would have any role
in the campaign process. (NOTE: The new election law states
that once a nominee and his proxies are registered, he and
his proxies can freely campaign, go door-to-door, or organize
meetings with voters to convince them to vote for the
candidate. However, "local executive authorities" are to
provide candidates with premises to hold their gatherings
with voters, and deputy governors are dual-hatted as
provincial CEC chairmen. END NOTE.)

ELECTION DAY TRADITIONS PERSIST


8. (SBU) The commission is not expecting any significant
challenges during this election season. Garriyev said the
focus will be on conducting the elections "on a high level".
As in past years, each polling station will have a temporary
stationery shop co-located with it, and a buffet.
Entertainment for arriving voters will include music and
dance performances. Young people voting for the first time
will receive gifts, such as books published by the
government, to remember their first voting experience.
National observers will be posted at each polling station to
make sure proper procedures are followed. Garriyev said that
CIS observers have been invited, and are coming to observe
the election. He added that the UN and OSCE "will also
attend." Finally, in spite of text in the new law
prohibiting the practice, he said that in rural areas,
polling stations will still be permitted to close after all
registered voters have been crossed off the voter list.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: The double hurdle of approval first for
nomination then for registration assures that the candidates
whose names are on the ballot have been carefully vetted.
With press reports suggesting a strong provincial government
role in selecting nominees, there will likely be no surprises
in these elections. Garriyev's comment that only "two or
three" current Mejlis deputies are likely to seek re-election
may be a sign that the central government wants to clean
house and fill the Mejlis with all new faces. END COMMENT.
CURRAN