As it is known, the term of powers of Oliy Majlis, regional, district and city Kengashes (Councils) of People’s Deputies expires in December this year.

In accordance with the second part of Article 117 of the Constitution, elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, representative and state bodies of regions, districts, cities should be held on the first Sunday of the third decade of December, i.e. on December 27, 2009.

During the meeting, the Central Election Commission adopted a resolution declaring the election campaign to start on September 22 this year.

The meeting approved instructions “On the procedure of organization of precinct election commissions for elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis”, “On the procedure of collecting signatures by political parties and verification of authenticity of signature sheets”, provisions “On the procedure of nominating candidates for the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan from the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan and their election”, “On the procedure of using the media by candidates, political parties during the election campaign for the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan”, “On observers from other states, international organizations and movements participating in the elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan”, order of accreditation of local and foreign journalists to cover the election campaign and other necessary regulations.

O. Soatov, secretary of the Central Election Commission, informed about the draft cost estimates for the preparation and holding of elections to Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.

The Central Election Commission also considered other issues relating to its powers and adopted relevant decisions.

On the same day, the press center of the Central Election Commission held a briefing for foreign and local journalists in connection with the announcement of the election campaign to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, regional, district and city Kengashes of People’s Deputies.

Speaking at the briefing, Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, chairman of the Central Election Commission, informed journalists of the adoption of resolution “On announcing the election campaign to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, regional, district and city Kengashes of People’s Deputies” and elaborated on the major activities envisaged by the resolution.

During the briefing, the CEC chairman stressed that all activities within the campaign will be held in Central Election Commission and local election commissions in strict accordance with the basic principles and requirements of the electoral legislation and the Concept of preparation and holding of elections to Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regional, district and city Kengashes of People’s Deputies. Only the CEC is the principal organizer of election campaign, and no one shall be allowed to interfere in this process. Excluded are any benefits and preferences for any participant in the election campaign. Rules and requirements of the electoral legislation are obligatory and equal for all.

Noone, state authorities in the first place, will be allowed to interfere with the election process. Any attempts of such interference in the election process, of passing around or violation of the legislation, evidence of patronage – will be strictly suppressed and measures stipulated by the legislations will be undertaken.

Participants of the briefing were familiarized with recently adopted new regulations of the election legislation directed at further liberalization of the election system, development of competition between parties.

In this context, taking into account the processes taking place in sociopolitical life of the country, for the sake improving the legislature’s work, sociopolitical activity of political parties and civil society institutions in democratic reforming of the country the number of deputies’ seats in the Legislative Chamber has been increased from 120 to 150, and the practice of letting candidates from initiative voters groups in was abolished. Thus, political parties have the exclusive right to come up with candidates to the Legislative Chamber. Given the major importance of environmental issues, improvement of ecology, public health, i.e. the issues that are of major importance to all layers of society irrespective of their political preferences, as well as administrative and territorial division of the country, 15 seats are allocated to the deputies elected from the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan in accordance with the new legislation.

The legislation now introduces the practice of authorized representative of political parties who has the right to participate in the counting of votes at election districts, in checking the validity of candidacy lists. The allowed maximum of candidates’ authorized representatives was increased from 5 to 10. Legal acts were amended by regulations that are to provide more transparency in the activity of election commissions on preparing and carrying out of elections.

Chairman of the Central Election Commission familiarized the participants of the briefing with the work conducted during preparatory period for the upcoming elections. In particular, a set of measures was implemented to make the electorate aware of the basic regulations of the election legislation and enrich their knowledge of law. Academics, experts and practical media workers made presentations, dozens of round tables with participation of civil society institutions representatives were organized and scientific-practical seminars.

In Addition, Mirzo-Ulug’bek Abdusalomov informed journalists of international conferences, seminars and round tables related to international standards of carrying out democratic reforms, issues of development and perfection of national election legislation, role of civil society institutions in the election process, provision of transparency and publicity of the election campaign. They were held in June-September this year in Tashkent, Bukhoro and Samarqand. These events were attended by international experts, academicians and specialists from the US, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, Ukraine, China, India, Japan, Turkey, Pakistan and other countries. Foreign experts pointed out that election legislation of Uzbekistan fully meets universal standards.

During the briefing basic dates of preparation and conducting of elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan were also announced.

At the end of his speech, chairman of the Central Election Commission remarked that today there are all necessary legal foundations in Uzbekistan for open, public and transparent conduct of free, fair and democratic elections.