2023 Uzbek presidential election explained

Country:Uzbekistan
Type:presidential
Previous Election:2021 Uzbek presidential election
Previous Year:2021
Next Year:2030
Election Date:9 July 2023
Turnout:79.88% (0.54pp)
Image1:Shavkat Mirziyoyev official portrait (cropped 2).jpg
Nominee1:Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Color1:009EE3
Party1:Independent politician
Popular Vote1:13,625,055
Percentage1:87.71%
Nominee2:Robakhon Makhmudova
Party2:Justice Social Democratic Party
Popular Vote2:693,634
Percentage2:4.47%
President
Before Election:Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Before Party:Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party
After Election:Shavkat Mirziyoyev
After Party:Independent (OʻzLiDeP/MTDP)
Registered:19,593,838

Early presidential elections were held in Uzbekistan on 9 July 2023.[1] The early election was called after the approval of the constitutional referendum where term limits were reset and president Shavkat Mirziyoyev can serve two more seven-year terms.[2]

Background

See also: 2023 Uzbek constitutional referendum. A constitutional referendum was held in Uzbekistan on 30 April 2023.[3] It was held on proposed constitutional amendments.[4]

Parliament approved the referendum on 15 March 2023.[5] The amendments were accepted in the referendum with over 90% in support, which will allow Mirziyoyev to be president for two further terms if re-elected.[6] [7] [8]

The Uzbekistan legislation requires at least 33% of eligible voters to take part in the presidential elections, otherwise, the elections will be pronounced invalid. The law also provides for a second round if none of the candidates receives more than 50% of the vote.[9] In practice, neither of these events have yet occurred, as every presidential election winner since the country's independence in 1991 has won with over 80% of the vote on a turnout of over 79%, and each incumbent standing for re-election has been re-elected.

Candidates

Name, birth year and partyPolitical officesRegistration date
Abdushukur Xamzayev
(1973)
Ecological Party
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan
(since 2022)
Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Ecological Party
(since 2023)
11 May 2023[10]
Ulugbek Inoyatov
(1962)[11]
O‘XDP
Minister of National Education
(2013–2018)
Chairman of O‘XDP
(since 2019)
12 May 2023[12]
Robaxon Maxmudova
(1968)
Adolat
First Deputy Chairwoman of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan
(since 2020)
12 May 2023[13]
Shavkat Mirziyoyev
(1957)
Independent
(suggested by O‘zLiDeP and Milliy Tiklanish)
President of Uzbekistan
(since 2016)[14]
Prime Minister of Uzbekistan
(2003–2016)
12 May 2023[15]

Conduct

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said that the elected "lacked genuine political competition despite some efforts to reform." Their report mentioned "indications of ballot box stuffing as well as numerous observations of seemingly identical signatures on the voter lists," noting that "None of the registered candidates publicly criticized the current president or presented alternative political views and the campaign remained low key throughout, with observers noting that events often appeared orchestrated."[16] The mission did, however, highly appreciate preparations for presidential elections.[17]

Results

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was re-elected with 88% of the vote. The preliminary results of the presidential elections were announced at a briefing by the chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan, Zainiddin Nizamkhojaev. More than 15 million voters participated in elections.[18]

International reactions

President and General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi Jinping also offered congratulations as well as praise for Mirziyoyev's leadership. "I am willing to work with you to promote the continuous development of the China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership and inject new impetus into the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future".

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Uzbekistan's leader calls for snap presidential election in July . 2023-05-08 . Al Jazeera . en.
  2. Web site: Uzbekistan announces early presidential election for July 9. May 8, 2023. Trend.Az.
  3. News: 15 March 2023 . Uzbekistan announces constitutional reform referendum . en . Bloomberg . 25 March 2023.
  4. Web site: Final Draft of Constitutional Amendments Reportedly Ready in Uzbekistan . 25 March 2023 . The Diplomat . en-US.
  5. Web site: Uzbekistan announces constitutional reform referendum . 25 March 2023 . PR Newswire . en.
  6. Web site: Референдумнинг дастлабки натижалари эълон қилинди . Kun.uz.
  7. Web site: Uzbekistan votes 'yes' to new constitution in victory for president . Nikkei Asia.
  8. Web site: ЦИК Узбекистана: Более 90% проголосовавших поддержали поправки в Конституцию . 1 May 2023 . Радио Озодлик . May 2023 . ru.
  9. Web site: 2023-06-27 . Elections in Uzbekistan: 2023 Presidential Elections . 2023-09-05 . International Foundation for Electoral Systems . en.
  10. Web site: Стал известен первый кандидат в президенты Узбекистана. ru. 2023-05-11. 2023-07-07. kun.uz.
  11. Web site: Иноятов Улугбек Ильясович. ru. 2023-07-07. arboblar.uz.
  12. Web site: Улугбек Иноятов станет кандидатом в президенты. ru. 2023-05-12. 2023-07-07. kun.uz.
  13. Web site: Среди кандидатов в президенты Узбекистана появилась женщина. ru. 2023-05-12. 2023-07-07. kun.uz.
  14. Web site: Uzbekistan Names Longtime PM Mirziyaev Interim President. en. 2016-09-08. 2023-07-07. Radio Free Europe.
  15. Web site: Шавкат Мирзиёев будет выдвинут кандидатом в президенты Узбекистана. ru. 2023-05-12. 2023-07-07. kun.uz.
  16. Web site: Uzbekistan's presidential election lacked genuine political competition despite some efforts to reform, international observers say. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
  17. Web site: July 12, 2023 . OSCE/ODIHR Mission Highly Appreciated Preparations for Presidential Elections in Uzbekistan . 2023-07-15 . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2023-07-10 . Shavkat Mirziyoyev re-elected President of Uzbekistan . 2023-07-10 . Azernews.Az . en.
  19. Web site: Uzbekistan finalizes results of presidential elections. Olesya. Bassarova. July 10, 2023. Kursiv Media Kazakhstan.
  20. News: Uzbekistan's leader reelected with 87% of the vote . .