| Country: | Turkmenistan |
| Type: | presidential |
| Previous Election: | 2012 Turkmenistan presidential election |
| Previous Year: | 2012 |
| Next Election: | 2022 Turkmenistan presidential election |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
| Turnout: | 97.28% |
| Image1: | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow (2017-10-11).jpg |
| Color1: | 1CC858 |
| Nominee1: | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
| Party1: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote1: | 3,090,610 |
| Percentage1: | 97.69% |
| Nominee2: | Maksat Annanepesow |
| Party2: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 32,269 |
| Percentage2: | 1.02% |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
| Before Party: | Independent politician |
| After Election: | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow |
| After Party: | Independent politician |
Presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan on 12 February 2017.[1] This was Turkmenistan's fifth presidential election and decided who would be the country's president for the next seven years. Incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow won with more than 97% of the vote,[2] similar to the results of the 2012 elections.
The result was widely expected; although the election was nominally contested by nine candidates, all opposition candidates were appointed by the government and the elections were regarded by foreign organisations as not being a free and fair contest.[2] [3]
In September 2016, the constitution was changed to remove term limits and the 70 year-old age limit for presidential candidates, as well as extending the presidential term from five to seven years.[2] [4]
The President of Turkmenistan is elected using the two-round system.[5]
The Democratic Party nominated the incumbent President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who won 97.14% of the vote in the previous elections. A total of 9 candidates were approved by the Central Election Committee.[6] [7] The opposition candidates' manifestos were published in the state-controlled mass media.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
| Name[18] | Party | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maksat Annanepesow | Independent | Chairman of the State Food Industry Association | |
| Jumanazar Annaýew | Independent | Deputy Head of Mary Region | |
| Bekmyrat Atalyýew | Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs | Member of Parliament | |
| Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow (Incumbent) | Democratic Party of Turkmenistan/Independent | President of Turkmenistan | |
| Ramazan Durdyýew | Independent | Member of Parliament | |
| Meretdurdy Gurbanow | Independent | Deputy Head of Daşoguz Region | |
| Serdar Jelilow | Independent | Head of the Department of Economic Development, Akhal Region | |
| Süleýmannepes Nurnepesow | Independent | Chief Executive of Garabogazsulfat | |
| Durdygylyç Orazow | Agrarian Party | Head of Mary Region |