On May 22, 2016, Tajikistan will hold a nationwide referendum on changing its constitution to remove term limits for the current President, lower the minimum age a candidate can be elected President, abolish the Court of Justice, and prohibit the establishment of religious-based or atheistic political parties. These are part of 41 proposed amendments that citizens will be voting on in a “yes” or “no” ballot measure.
Emomali Rakhmon has been in power since 1994 and his current term will end in 2020. But if the suggested amendments are adopted, he will be able to serve as many terms as he wishes.
3239 polling stations will be opened in 68 electoral districts. More than 120 observers from the CIS and the SCO contrives were invited to monitor the referendum, the event will be covered by about 300 journalists.
The current Constitution of Tajikistan was adopted on 6 November 1994.