In a snap election called by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, he emerged victorious and secured his re-election as the president of Uzbekistan. The central election commission in Tashkent declared Mirziyoyev the winner with a resounding 87.05% of the votes, according to preliminary results.
The decision to hold early elections was prompted by a constitutional amendment that extended the presidential term from five to seven years. Following a successful referendum in April, which approved a new constitution, Mirziyoyev became eligible to run for re-election. The constitutional changes were crucial for him as they allowed him to bypass the term limit, ensuring his continuation in office beyond his second term, which would have ended after five years.
Facing minimal opposition, the 65-year-old president encountered no significant challengers during the election. The electoral commission reported the vote shares of the three other candidates as 3.7% and 4.4%, further emphasizing Mirziyoyev’s dominance.
Approximately 19.6 million eligible citizens, accounting for nearly 70% of voters, actively participated in the election, as confirmed by official figures released on Sunday. Mirziyoyev’s popularity has remained strong since his previous victory in the 2021 election, where he garnered 80.1% of the votes.
In May, a majority of Uzbekistan’s citizens voted in favor of constitutional changes, including reducing the size of parliament and limiting the president to two consecutive seven-year terms. However, Mirziyoyev’s prior terms will not be counted towards these term limits.
Despite his re-election and continued leadership, concerns raised by civil rights activists persist regarding human rights violations in the country. Mirziyoyev has taken steps to open up Uzbekistan to the West, but critics argue that more substantial progress is necessary to protect fundamental rights and liberties.
(With inputs from agencies)
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