Upper house of parliament dissolved in Turkmenistan
The Parliament of Turkmenistan was transformed into a unicameral one.
The Milli Gengesh (parliament) of Turkmenistan was transformed from a bicameral legislative body into the Mejlis, which has been the lower house of the Turkmen parliament since 2021, Kommersant.ru reports.
The Halk Maslakhaty (The People’s Council of Turkmenistan) was reorganized into the “supreme body of people’s power.” Ex-president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov remains chairman of the Mejlis.
“In connection with the creation of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan and vesting it with broad powers, including the consideration and approval of proposals for the adoption of the constitution of Turkmenistan and constitutional laws, making changes and additions to them, it was proposed to stop the work of the Halk Maskhalty of the National Council. The expediency of transforming the parliament, which exercises legislative power in the country, into the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, consisting of one chamber, was noted,” the message on the website of the state agency of the country says.
The meeting also secured the status of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as the national leader of Turkmenistan.
The Turkmen Parliament was reorganized from unicameral to bicameral on January 1, 2021. The Mezhdlis consists of 125 deputies elected for five years. According to the Freedom House think tank, legislative elections are tightly controlled by the executive branch, there is no real competition, and opposition candidates are not allowed to participate.
