Tajikistan’s ruling party wins in parliamentary elections

The head of Tajikistan’s Central Electoral Commission, Shermuhammad Shohien, said that the ruling People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan won in the parliamentary elections held on March 1 with 65.2% of the votes cast.

The party is led by the country’s president, Emomali Rahmon. According to Shohien, the following parties also overcame the 5% barrier required for getting seats in the parliament: the Socialist Party – 5.5% of votes, the Agrarian Party – 11.8% and the Party of Economic Reforms – 7.6%. "The election was held freely, democratically and in compliance with Tajikistan’s law. 3,791,827 voters or 87.7% of the total number of voters participated in this election," RIA Novosti cited the head of the Tajikistan’s CEC.

Around 63 MPs, 41 from single-mandate constituencies and 22 - on the lists of political parties in a single republican constituency, are elected to the lower house of the parliament. A total of 285 candidates (103 on party lists and 182 single-mandate constituencies), including 80 self-nominated candidates were competing. There were 30 women among the candidates.

Eight officially registered political parties, the ruling People's Democratic Party, the Communist Party, the Islamic Renaissance Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Agrarian Party, the Socialist Party, the Democratic Party and the Party of Economic Reforms, participated in the elections.