It seems that Central Asian Region is under rigorous socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic “realignment” and “transformation”. The president of Uzbekistan Mirziyoyev started a “holistic” and comprehensive process of further “politicization” and “democratization” in the country since 2016.
In this regard, hopefully, the successful referendum to be held on April 30, 2023 would
further incorporate spirits of fair-play, political diversity, administrative openness, transparency, electoral free & fair orientations along with induction of good & corporate governance in the decision making from top to bottom.
The western media as usual has been disseminating false, fake and fictional
propaganda about the proposed political change in the country since last year and
terming it “One Person” specific just to provide constitutional cover for further political
survival which is absolutely “untrue” and “unreal”.
Contrary to its tall claims of one person specific constructional amendments, according
to latest official news and statements more than “65 percent or 2/3 part” of the current
constitution is going to be rewritten, “redrafted” and “reapproved” through “legitimate” holding of referendum which is not “ultra-constructional” act because its provisions
permit the incumbent government to exercise it through seeking massive political/electoral activity/verdict from its people.
The Republic of Uzbekistan has its own “unique” but integrated, interactive, coordinated and holistic democratic system in its country which is “people’s friendly”. Therefore, the ongoing Western false propaganda campaigns are based on its “resumption of guilt, “political prejudice” and “social hatred”. Every country has its own governing system and democratic norms which may be vary from the so-called western civilized and democratic countries. But still countries of the Central Asian Region are democratic in all respect and the Republic of Uzbekistan is not any exception.So they should stop undue and unjust political and “electoral aggregation” against Uzbekistan’s referendum which will be held on April 30, 2023 with “absolute freedom” of choice of the voters in the country. In this regard, there has not been a single incident of pre-referendum rigging or political engineering in the country.
In order the pursue desired constitutional changes through country-wide gross-root
politicization and democratization most recent the Uzbek president Mirziyoyev presided
with deputies from the Oliy Majlis’ Legislative Chamber (lower chamber of parliament)
and Senate (upper chamber) as well as the leadership of the country’s Supreme Court
and considered the results of public feedback on constitutional amendments.
According the president’s office, more than 200,000 proposals were submitted and
considered. It has been comprehensive consultative exercise of several months which
vividly reflects the collective political wisdom, maturity, electoral diversity and last but not least administrative superior skills of its people, organizations, think tanks, forums
and media to further transform it state, society and system alike.
Interestingly, in this lengthy process, the parliament and the government, members of
the public freely express their valuable proposals and opinions on the draft law.”
Separately, Uzbekistan’s Constitutional Court will also weigh in and shared its
suggestions.
In this regard, Uzbekistan’s has approved the lower house’s decision to hold a
referendum on the country’s new draft constitution on April 30. Earlier, the upper house
approved a bill on the country’s new constitution that had been passed by the
Legislative Chamber (lower house) on March 10.
According to president office, the new proposed constitution will have 155 articles
instead of the current 128. The number of constitutional norms will also be increased
from 275 to 434 which clearly reflects quantum social, political, economic and administrative refinement and qualitative & quantitative readjustment in the constitution on part of the policy makers, members parliament and the public alike.
Under the proposed new constitution, the president, speakers of both houses of
parliament, chairperson of the Supreme Court, chairperson and deputy chair of the
Supreme Judicial Council, chairperson of the Central Election Commission, prosecutor
general, and several other officials would be barred from holding office for more than
two consecutive terms which has political and administrative sense and maturity.
The constitutional reform was initiated by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in
December 2021. In May 2022, Uzbekistan’s parliament set up a commission to draft
amendments to the 1992 constitution.
The president also came out with an initiative to hold a nationwide referendum on the constitutional amendments. The nationwide discussion of the bill on constitutional amendments was initially slated to last until July 4, 2022, but was extended following mass riots on July 1 and 2 in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan.
Afterwards, President Mirziyoyev wisely decided against introducing amendments that
would have stripped Karakalpakstan of its status as a sovereign republic within Uzbekistan and the right to leave Uzbekistan based on a secession referendum.
The amendments suggest declaring Uzbekistan a "social state" and decreasing the number of lawmakers in Uzbekistan's upper chamber of parliament, the Senate, from 100 to 65.
The proposed changes would also extend the presidential term to seven years from five which would provide ample time to implement all the structural reforms for the complete socio-economic and political transformation in the country. Moreover, it would sense of stability which would foster economic sustainability in the country in the longer run.
Uzbek lawmakers have agreed to hold a referendum on a new constitution that would
allow President Shavkat Mirziyoev to run for a third term in office.
The amendments changing the constitution are expected to be approved in the
referendum by a majority. The referendum, on April 30 will be the third referendum in
the history of independent Uzbekistan.
To conclude, the lawmakers of both houses of the Uzbek parliament rightly termed the
proposed constitution changes as “historic” and an important stage in the building of
“Uzbek statehood”.
It seems that it will definitely change the old political doctrine from “State-Society-
Person” to a new one of “Person-Society-State” in true terms and will be beneficial for
achieving the desired goals of socio-economic prosperity and political stability in the
days to come.
The proposed changes also plans to make Uzbekistan a “social state” where “the human being, his life, his freedom, his honour and his dignity are the supreme values which are commendable. It would start a “new chapter” in the political history of modern Uzbekistan leading towards “New Uzbekistan, New Priorities and New Social Realities”.
Most recently, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a
meeting with deputies of the Legislative Chamber, members of the Senate of the Oliy
Majlis, and the leadership of the Supreme Court and finalized the details of proposed
changes in the current constitution.
Interestingly, the deputies directly received more than 200000 proposals from the
common people. Interestingly, the international experience had been taken into
account, leading specialists and experts from various sectors were involved.
Following several months of study, the final edition of the draft constitutional law on
introducing amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan
was prepared.
Since the draft law contains the most important changes in the socio-economic, political
spheres and public administration, deputies are consulting with the legislative initiative
subjects defined in Article 83 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan before
introducing it to the referendum.
In this process, the Parliament and Government, public representatives are expressing
their proposals and opinions on the draft law.
Uzbekistan’s referendum to be held on April 30, 2023 would be start of new era of
“Social Cohesion”, “Political Manifestation”, Ethnic Diversity”, “Administrative
Overhauling” with new structural reforms, governing systems, SOPs, people’s friendly
policies, programs and projects to achieve the ultimate goals of “New Uzbekistan”,
socially articulated, politically matured and economic vibrant.
The author is Executive Director: The Center for South Asia & International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad, Regional Expert: Uzbekistan & CIS
Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan
