Turkmen president stepping down as party leader
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 17 August 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkmen president stepping down as party leader, 17 August 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/521f468b10.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 17, 2013
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov
Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov says he is stepping down as leader of the ruling party to promote a multiparty system.
Berdymukhammedov told a party conference on August 17 that, in a multiparty system, "the president of a country should not be a member of any party."
Berdymukhammedov has led the Democratic Party since 2006, taking over after the death of Saparmurat Niyazov, his predecessor as president and party leader.
Formerly the Turkmen branch of the Soviet Communist Party, it was the country's only party for two decades.
Last year, a new law authorized the creation of a new political party called the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
The Democratic Party has some 190,000 members, the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs around 2,000.
Both parties are set to contest parliamentary elections in December.
Based on reporting by AFP and ITAR-TASS
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
