Tajikistan is due to political reshuffle since President Emomali Rahmon’s October re-election and eyes have turned to possible government changes in the country. 

The first decree that President Emomali Rahmon signed on October 30 after swearing in for his fifth term as Tajikistan’s president was a decree on resignation of the government.

According to Eurasianet, it has been bruited that there may be notable changes in the Cabinet to allow for Rahmon’s close associates to take up top posts.  If that does happen, it would signal that a leadership transition is being engineered after all, Eurasianet said.

Under the country’s Constitution, all cabinet ministers will continue fulfilling their duties until a new government is formed.

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.