Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has been elected as a member of a newly established senate, in a vote in which there was no opposition and only indirect suffrage.
State media in the Central Asian state reported Berdymukhammedov received "100%" of the vote in the March 29 election, giving him a new position as a lawmaker in the upper chamber.
The 63-year-old is already president and head of government of a state built around his cult of personality.
The election was the first for the upper chamber, or People's Council, since constitutional amendments in September 2020 made parliament bicameral.
State media reported 112 registered candidates vied for the 48 seats available in the upper chamber, stressing the elections were "fair" and monitored by "independent" domestic observers. Eight members of the upper house will also be appointed by Berdymukhamedov.
The elections were held by secret ballot through indirect suffrage, with 231 electors from the provinces and capital, Ashgabat, able to vote, RFE/RL reported.
"The elections were held on a competitive basis -- each of the 48 candidates was nominated by 2-3 people who deserved the special respect of our compatriots," state media reported.
Turkmen President wins Senate seat
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