New Turkmen Parliament Gathers
New Turkmen Parliament Gathers
On January 9, the new-shape Turkmen parliament elected in December will meet for its opening session.
According to the revised constitution adopted earlier last year, the parliament or Mejlis now consists of 125 members elected on a constituency basis to serve for five years.
In theory, legislators now have broader powers than before – they can change the constitution, bring in political, economic and social development programmes, and call both referendums and election to the presidency, parliament and local government. These functions used to be carried out by the Halk Maslakhaty, a large assembly which President Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov abolished in September, saying the time for it had passed.
NBCentral Asia observers in Turkmenistan expect the first package of bills submitted to the Mejlis will concern agricultural reform and new economic projects.
According to the revised constitution adopted earlier last year, the parliament or Mejlis now consists of 125 members elected on a constituency basis to serve for five years.
In theory, legislators now have broader powers than before – they can change the constitution, bring in political, economic and social development programmes, and call both referendums and election to the presidency, parliament and local government. These functions used to be carried out by the Halk Maslakhaty, a large assembly which President Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov abolished in September, saying the time for it had passed.
NBCentral Asia observers in Turkmenistan expect the first package of bills submitted to the Mejlis will concern agricultural reform and new economic projects.
