DUSHANBE, May 15, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- MPs Muhiddin Kabiri and Saidumar Husaini, who represent the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) in the lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of the parliament, yesterday again submitted their amendments proposed to the Constitutional Law “On Election of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan” for consideration to the parliament.

These amendments are reportedly aimed at providing transparency of the upcoming presidential election that will take place in Tajikistan in November this year.

According to IRP leaders, one the main amendments proposed by them to the presidential election law is to provide an equal representation of political parties in electoral commissions at all levels.

We will recall that for the first time, Kabiri and Husaini submitted their amendments for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon in November last year.

They propose to provide equal representation of political parties in electoral commissions at all levels.

They also propose that a candidate for the post of the President should have the support of two percent of citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan who have universal suffrage.

Under the current law, a candidate for the post of the President shall have the support of 5 per cent of citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan who have universal suffrage.

Besides, the IRP proposes that candidates nominated by political parties, who win five and more percent of the vote, should be exempted from collecting signatures.

We will recall that the President of the Republic of Tajikistan is elected by national vote for the seven-year term.  President Emomali Rahmon won a third term in office in November 2006 by capturing more than 79% of the total vote.

The president, who is directly elected, is both the head of state and the head of government. The president appoints the prime minister and all the members of the government, with parliamentary approval.  Tajikistan is thus a presidential republic. Tajikistan held a constitutional referendum on June 22, 2003 and the 2003 Constitution, among other amendments, set a limit of two seven-year terms for the president.  Emomali Rahmon’s election to the office of the president in 2006 counts as his first 7-year term under the 2003 Constitution, and in principle he may be re-elected for a second term in 2013, remaining in office until 2020.

Founded in October 1990, the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan was registered on December 4, 1991.  It was banned by the Supreme Court in June 1993 and legalized in August 1999.  Its official newspaper is Najot (Salvation).  According to some sources, IRP now has some 50,000 members.  It won two seats in the 2010 parliamentary elections.  The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan is the only Islamic party registered in CIS Central Asia.