DUSHANBE, March 5, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- By-election in Vose constituency # 30 set for May 5 will be a kind of test for the country’s authorities and political parties, the Communist Party (CPT) leader Shod Shabdolov, who is also deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), said.

According to him, the preliminary conclusions will be made by the results of the by-election “whether the authorities are really ready to ensure the holding of transparent and democratic election of the head of state.”

At the same time, Shabdolov has noted that it will be premature to  speak about transparent elections in the country until political parties are represented in electoral commissions in polling stations.

“However, one thing is certain – by-election in the Vose constituency may become the barometer of the upcoming presidential election in the country,” Shabdolov said.

He further added that the CPT intended to nominate its candidate to run in the by-election in the Vose constituency.

We will recall that by president’s decree Rustam Latipov, who was representing the Vose district in the parliament, was appointed acting chairperson of the Vose district, Khatlon province.  Under the country’s legislation, Rustam Latipov resigned his seat in the Majlisi Namoyandagon.