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