Daughter of Uzbekistan’s President – His Aide as Well – Gets Promoted
The eldest daughter of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been elevated to head of the presidential administration, strengthening her power at top levels of the government of the Central Asian country. Saida Mirziyoyeva, 40, already had a high-profile role in Uzbekistan’s government, meeting international dignitaries in her role as a presidential aide. Now she will take on a newly created role that is likely to stir debate about whether she could become a candidate to eventually succeed her father. “By decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, changes were made to the structure of the Presidential Administration. The position of Head of the Presidential Administration was established,” and Mirziyoyeva was appointed to the job, presidential spokesman Sherzod Asadov said Monday. Asadov’s post on Telegram included a photo of Mirziyoyeva standing and acknowledging the applause of officials around a table. Mirziyoyeva has spoken in support of freedom of speech and women’s rights, issues that have sometimes run up against conservative culture and tight political controls in Uzbekistan. While her father, President Mirziyoyev, has pursued economic reforms and closer ties with international partners, OSCE observers said in a statement that there was a lack of political competition in legislative elections last year and the vote “did not offer voters a real choice.” Mirziyoyev, 67, has been president of Uzbekistan since 2016. He was re-elected in a 2023 vote after a constitutional amendment that reset the number of his terms in office and lengthened presidential terms from five to seven years.