Tajikistan’s Upcoming Election: A Mere Tool for Emomali Rahmon’s Power Consolidation
The forthcoming election in Tajikistan is expected to be undemocratic, primarily serving to bolster President Emomali Rahmon’s grip on power. His party, the People’s Democratic Party, controls a significant majority in the parliament and will likely maintain this advantage with the support of compliant opposing parties. The election is anticipated to reinforce the diminishment of true political opposition.
The upcoming general election in Tajikistan, scheduled for March 2nd, is widely anticipated to lack democratic integrity. It is expected to serve as a mechanism for President Emomali Rahmon to strengthen his hold on power, rather than a genuine electoral process. Rahmon’s ruling People’s Democratic Party currently dominates the outgoing parliament, holding three-quarters of the seats, and is likely to secure a significant majority in the upcoming vote.
Despite the presence of five other parties competing for parliamentary seats, all are aligned with Rahmon and support his leadership. Thus, the election process is more of a formality within a rubber-stamp parliament that is predominantly favorable to Rahmon, whose official title includes ‘Founder of Peace and National Unity.’
In summary, the election in Tajikistan on March 2nd appears to be a confirmation of Emomali Rahmon’s authority rather than a legitimate democratic exercise. The substantial dominance of his party, coupled with the uniformity of supporting parties, indicates that any semblance of political opposition has been effectively neutralized. As such, this electoral process is set to further entrench Rahmon’s rule.
Original Source: www.economist.com
