Assembly of Turkmenistan

The Assembly (Mejilis) is the legislative branch of Turkmenistan. It has 125 members,[1] elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies.

Assembly of Turkmenistan

Mejilis
Type
Type
History
Founded1992
Preceded bySupreme Soviet of Turkmenistan
Leadership
Gülşat Mämmedowa, TDP
since 30 March 2018
First Deputy Speaker
Kasymguly Babaev, TDP
since 30 March 2018
Second Deputy Speaker
Arslan Gurbanmämmedow, TDP
since 22 December 2006
Structure
Seats125
Political groups
  • Government (77)
  •   Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (55)
  •   Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (11)
  •   Agrarian Party (11)
  • Neutral (48)
  •   Independents (48)
Elections
Last election
25 March 2018
Meeting place
Ruhyýet Palace
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

History

The Mejlis on the 50 manat

Originally, it shared power with the People's Council. Since 2018, the People's Council has been restored as a parliamentary body, an arrangement that will be formalized in 2020.[2][3]

A 2003 law reduced the power of the Assembly and augmented that of the People's Council. This meant that until 2008 the Assembly could be legally dissolved by the People's Council, was led by the President, and no longer able to amend the Constitution.[4]

The People's Council was demoted and reorganized into the Council of Elders by a new constitution drafted by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in 2008, making the Assembly/Mejlis the unicameral parliament again.

However, following the adoption of another new constitution in September 2016, President Berdimuhamedow issued a decree on 10 October 2017 transforming the Council of Elders back into the People's Council. The first meeting of the re-created upper house took place following the 2018 regional and local elections.[5]

The current chairman is Gülşat Mämmedowa from 30 March 2018. She succeeded Akja Nuberdiyeva.

Powers and duties

The Constitution of Turkmenistan stipulates that the assembly:[6]

  • Enacts laws, makes amendments and additions to the Constitution and laws, monitors their performance and their interpretation.
  • Considers for approval the programme activities of the Cabinet of Ministers;
  • Examines questions related to approval of the state budget of Turkmenistan and reports on its implementation.
  • Considers the basic directions and programmes of political, economic and social development of the country.
  • Determines whether to hold national referendums.
  • Declare the election of the President of Turkmenistan, deputies of the Mejlis, members of the velayat, district, municipal representative bodies and the Gengeshes.
  • Considers the recommendations of the President of Turkmenistan on the issues related to the appointment and dismissal of the Chairman of the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General, the minister for Internal Affairs, the minister for Justice.
  • Establishes state awards, awards state decorations to the President of Turkmenistan, assigns him the military ranks and distinctions.
  • Determines conformity to or divergence from the Constitution and the normative-legal Acts by the state authorities and government.
  • Ratifies and denounces international treaties.
  • Considers questions related to change of state borders and administrative and territorial division of Turkmenistan.
  • Examines the issues related to peace and security.
  • Decides other questions in the competence of the Mejlis under the Constitution and laws.

List of Chairmen

  • Sakhat Muradow (18 November 1990 – 7 May 2001)
  • Raşit Meredow (7 May 2001 – 7 July 2001)
  • Redzhepbay Arayow (7 July 2001 – 13 March 2002)
  • Tagandurdy Hallyýew (13 March 2002 – 12 November 2002)
  • Öwezgeldi Ataýew (12 November 2002 – 22 December 2006)
  • Akja Nurberdiýewa (22 December 2006 – 30 March 2018)
  • Gülşat Mämmedowa (30 March 2018 – present)

See also

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Turkmenistan To Merge Parliament With People's Council". RFE/RL. 26 September 2019.
  3. "Turkmenistan preparing for transition to bicameral parliamentary system". trend. 5 December 2019.
  4. "Central Asia :: Turkmenistan — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". Cia.gov. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  5. "В Ашхабаде пройдёт Халк Маслахаты Туркменистана" (in Russian). Новости Центральной Азии. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  6. Article 63 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan

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