Uzbekistan Holds Landmark Elections with New Voting System

On October 27, Uzbekistan held elections for deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Lower House of Parliament) and local councils. This marks the first time these elections were conducted using a mixed (majority-proportional) system and featured electronic voting. For over a month, parties actively promoted their election programs to the public, with televised debates and messages on public transport urging citizens to participate in the elections and shape the country’s future. As required by law, all campaigning activities were halted one day before the election. The Times of Central Asia also studied the election programs of five parties in Uzbekistan. The Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP) emphasized poverty reduction and promoting internal labor migration over the next five years. The party also supports expanding public-private partnerships in water management, ecology, and energy to increase the private sector's share in the economy to 85%. Additionally, UzLiDeP pledges to improve education, healthcare, and social services, focusing on providing clean drinking water and sewage systems in schools. The party plans to double the annual budget for healthcare to $6 billion, and is advocating for a law to enhance healthcare and social support for citizens over 70. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) focuses on accessibility and social support, including assistive technologies at public transportation points for people with disabilities. They propose adopting a “Social Housing” law, requiring luxury housing developers to allocate funds for social housing. This would benefit vulnerable groups like the homeless, people with disabilities, and orphanage graduates. The party’s environmental initiatives include the Water Code and creating “Health Parks” for seniors near apartment complexes. The Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) Party’s platform spans various topics, including youth development, cultural enrichment, family support, economic growth, and tourism. One key section emphasizes Uzbekistan’s international relations, focusing on friendly ties with neighboring countries, cooperation, and maintaining peace. Alisher Qodirov, the party leader, has been actively responding to international discussions about Uzbekistan, reinforcing the party’s commitment to advancing national interests and strengthening Uzbekistan’s presence on the world stage. The Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party advocates for media freedom, proposing reforms to safeguard journalists’ rights and prevent interference. They aim to introduce a “Presumption of Property Rights” to protect ownership and propose affordable energy and price stability initiatives. The Ecology Party’s motto, “We are responsible for the future!” drives its focus on environmental and social issues. The party promotes government, business, and civil society efforts to address environmental challenges. It also seeks to improve environmental legislation and education and transition Uzbekistan toward a green economy. [caption id="attachment_24929" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @TCA[/caption] According to Uzbek legislation, the election is successful if 33% of voters participate. By 1pm (in the local time zone), 47.62% of all voters had voted. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also participated in the election process. He and his family voted in the 59th polling station on Tashkent's Mirzo Ulugbek district. It was reported that more than 850 foreign and international observers participated in the elections as part of the full-fledged missions of the CIS, SCO, the...