During the two-day work, experts discussed a wide range of issues, but the main subject of discussion was the experience of Uzbekistan in implementation of international electoral standards into the national legislative base as well as the practice of organizing and holding elections to representative bodies.
Practically all participants were unanimous in the opinion that as a result of systematic, consistent, gradual modernization of the political, public, legal system, Uzbekistan has established an electoral system that meets the highest democratic prerequisites in compliance with international standards. It is based on the standards of international law, human rights and international electoral standards as well as the experience of the legislation and the practice of holding elections in foreign democratic states. But, as the experts believe, the main constituent in the development of electoral legislation is the conservation of national historical experience of electoral practice, conformity with traditions and mentality of people.
“Since 1991, the Republic selected democratic way of development. Such system was new for Uzbekistan and for the whole Central Asian region. The way wasn’t easy, but all we have achieved today speaks for itself, it was the only right choice, the evolutionary development and implementation of international standards into own legislation, holding free and open election,” noted Doctor Shahid Taslim from the Academy of Third World Studies (India).
Analysis of legal framework and electoral system, in the opinion of the Indian expert, fully confirms the guarantee of free and fair elections.
“A proper maintenance of genuine democratic elections, with adequate, transparent and coherent system of electoral process, impartiality and professional qualifications of election authorities, candidates’ equal access to the media, effectiveness of judicial and other safeguards of protecting electoral rights and freedoms of participants in the electoral process have been ensures in the country,” stressed Dr. Taslim.
As noted Dr. Yosuke Shamote from Nagoya University, the democratic character of the electoral law and electoral system, its compliance with international standards is described by five attributes: “These are general election, equal suffrage, free elections, direct elections and secret ballot. All these elements are present in the Republic of Uzbekistan, whose electoral system is truly democratic.”
During the discussions the participants repeatedly stressed the idea that a deeply thought-out, balanced and systematic work on the improvement and liberalization of the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan that creates unique conditions for free elections can serve as a model for many developed democratic countries in promoting and implementing electoral franchise.
“Democratization reforms in Uzbekistan in some aspects are ahead of those in Japan,” said Yosuke Shamote. “Women take only 4.4% of all seats in the parliament. While in Uzbekistan, the ratio is 18%. The overall rate of the world in terms of representations of women in parliament is an average of 17%. In general, the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan is more democratic and available. Any citizen who has attained the age of 25 can run for the upper legislative chamber. In Japan, to become a Member of Parliament, you need to pay a deposit of 000, which is not affordable for everyone. In this regard, your principles of universality and easy access to balloting for candidates are very remarkable.
Participants focused on the amendments introduced into the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan. For instance, the amount of the seats in the Legislative Chamber increased from 120 to 150, 15 seats will be given to MPs selected from the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan. The Institution of Authorized Representatives of Political Parties also was introduced into the electoral legislation, which was given the right to take part in the counting of votes at polling stations, in checking the correctness of composing the subscription lists. The possible amount of authorized delegates of candidates to parliament was increased from 5 to 10.
“I think the decision of introducing representatives of political parties in the counting of votes is right and opportune. It makes elections more transparent. What about the quota system for members of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan, ecology is a big problem for Uzbekistan and it must be considered at all the levels, including the legislative one,” noted Laura Maggi, Sapienza University of Rome (Italy).
In the opinion of Eva-Maria Henckel, Executive Program Manager at ABU Consult Berlin GmbH (Germany), the introduced amendments into the electoral legislation is an important factor of free choice, provision of opportunity to make choice between political competitors, having intensified the struggle between them.
“Over 18 years of independent development, the state has achieved good results in perfection of the legislation, democratic principles and standards, its implementation. There is much from international practice of holding elections taken to the national legislation of Uzbekistan. Perhaps Europeans have already forgotten that the process of democratization, creation of legislation is a continuing process, and it is impossible to urge or outstrip some events, everything has its day,” German expert noted.
The participants of the forum were familiarized with the Concept, worked out by the Central Election Commission, on preparing and holding election to Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to regional, district and local Kengashs of People’s Deputies, which will take part in December this year. This document determines main principles, tasks, priority directions, main stages and measures of preparing and holding elections. Among main tasks of preparing and holding elections, there are provisions for steady and absolute observance of regulations of effective legislation by all the participants of election campaign. In whole, the regulations of the Concept were evaluated by foreign experts as an example of high democracy of electoral system of Uzbekistan, which testifies to deep democratic reforms in the society.
In opinion of Yevgeniy Sloboda, head of the CIS observation mission of the CIS Executive Committee, the Concept, approved by the Central Election Commission, of preparing for elections, suggested approaches and principles are designed to ensure that the upcoming elections to be held in the strict framework of the current national legislation, without any outside interference in the electoral process.
“Notably, there will be no privileges and preferences for any of the participants in the election campaign. This is necessary to ensure competition, use of civilized forms of political competition by political parties and candidates for parliament, broad and equal opportunities for political parties, candidates in using mass media, etc. In short, the Concept stresses the strong will of the CEC to ensure true, fair, open, transparent and democratic elections,” emphasized Y. Sloboda.
The dialogue, as experts noted, was constructive; it allowed them to exchange experience and opinions. This international conference was initiated by the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan, Tashkent State Institute of Law and Institute for the Study of Civil Society in cooperation with Nagoya University (Japan) and Office of OSCE Projects Coordinator in Uzbekistan. Notable experts, specialists and scientists from Germany, India, Italy, Lithuania, Russia, South Korea, Japan took part in it.
By Iroda Ahmedova
