The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan has registered 29,350 candidates for various levels of government in a meeting held on September 20, as reported by the CEC press service. This marks a significant step in the country's upcoming elections.
Political Parties Represented
The candidates represent all registered political parties in Uzbekistan, including:
- The Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP)
- The Democratic "National Revival" Party
- The Ecological Party
- The People's Democratic Party (PDPU)
- The Social Democratic "Justice" Party
Candidate Distribution
The breakdown of candidates is as follows:
- 875 candidates for the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Uzbekistan's parliament)
- 3,625 for the Jokargy Kenes (parliament) of Karakalpakstan, and regional and Tashkent city councils
- 24,850 for district and city councils
Demographic Trends
Notably, the CEC highlighted a younger demographic among candidates compared to previous elections. The average age of potential members of the Legislative Chamber is 47.2 years, while candidates for other levels average 44.4 years.
Education levels are high among candidates, with 99.3% of Legislative Chamber candidates and 90.3% of other candidates holding higher education degrees.
Gender representation shows progress, with women constituting 44.7% of Oliy Majlis candidates and 42.5% of candidates for other positions.
Professional Background
The largest professional group among candidates is educators, making up 27.9% of parliamentary candidates and 36% of candidates for councils and the Jokargy Kenes. Other significant professional groups include economists, engineers, doctors, and lawyers, with fewer entrepreneurs and farmers.
Ethnic Diversity and Inclusivity
The CEC also provided statistics on the ethnic composition of candidates, including Tajiks, Kazakhs, Turkmens, Kyrgyz, Russians, and other nationalities.
Inclusivity has been emphasized, with 11 candidates with disabilities running for the Legislative Chamber and 605 for local councils, marking a historic high in representation.
Election Timeline and System
The election campaign will officially begin on September 22, with the elections scheduled for October 27, 2024. These elections will determine 150 deputies for the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, 65 deputies for the Jokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, and deputies for regional, Tashkent, and 208 district (city) councils.
For the first time, the parliamentary elections will use a mixed electoral system. Half of the deputies (75) will be elected through single-mandate constituencies (majoritarian system), while the other half will be elected through proportional representation based on party lists.
This election marks a significant development in Uzbekistan's democratic process, showcasing increased diversity in candidate representation and a new electoral system.
