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international international
Some aspects of the new constitution are
considered major progress, such as protections
for people from eviction and wanton home
demolition, provisions barring discrimination
against women in the workplace owing to
pregnancy, and enshrining the right to remain
silent for those accused of crimes.
We were in Tashkent during the referendum,
visiting voting stations. In keeping with Uzbek
usage, the entire referendum process was well
prepared. The voting stations were mainly in
schools and universities, and one noteworthy
aspect was that they were not only very well
organized but also filled with enthusiastic
voters. President of Uzbekistan
Shavakat mirzivoyev
According to Uzbekistan’s Central Election
uzbek Commission (CEC), 90.21 percent of those re-elected and took an oath during the
who voted in Sunday’s referendum approved
population participated in the the new constitution. Turnout, the CEC said, solemn Ceremony of the Inauguration
country’s first exceeded 84 percent, showing clearly the After the country’s first constitutional refer-
population’s commitment to the amendments
Constitution to the constitution. endum on 30 April, comprising major consti-
tutional amendments, the Uzbek population
Referendum headed again to the voting stations on Sunday
9 July.
On 30 April 2023, the Uzbek population An initial draft constitution was published Throughout the whole of last year, the popu-
participated in the country’s first constitutional in June 2022, which was followed by lation of Uzbekistan had been consulted on
referendum since the country gained its a public consultation period. Various how they would like their country to be in
independence in 1991. parliamentary committees, overseen by the years to come. The process was called the
the Constitutional Reform Commission, NEW UZBEKISTAN. The amendments were
The Constitution was originally ratified in subsequently reviewed citizens’ feedback accepted in the referendum with over 90% in
1992, one year after the country became before making changes. It was in March support of them.
independent. Under the leadership of President of this year that a final draft was unveiled
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a comprehensive reform and the vote scheduled for April 30. The presidential election of 9 July was one of
programme was undertaken, and a set of The final draft altered 65 percent of the the direct results of the constitutional change.
constitutional reforms was prepared under existing Uzbek Constitution, including the There were several candidates running for elec-
the direction of the country’s Constitutional introduction of 27 new articles and 159 tion, but for any observer it seemed impossible
Reform Commission. new provisions. to win against the incumbent -- and now re-
elected -- president. He has done a very good
job during his previous term, and everybody
expects this will continue to be the case.
Photos: Pierre Michel Virot Uzbekistan legislation requires at least 33%
of eligible voters to take part in the presiden-
tial elections, otherwise, the elections will be
pronounced invalid. The law also provides for
a second round if none of the candidates re-
ceives more than 50% of the vote. The Presi-
w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h dent was re-elected with 87.05 % of the votes.
