Since 2016, President Mirzijoyev has ruled Uzbekistan in an authoritarian manner. Actually, 2026 would be the end – but a change in the constitution now enables him to extend his term of office massively.
In Uzbekistan, the way is clear for President Shawkat Mirsiyoyev to become the long-standing head of state. According to official figures, more than 90 percent of those who took part voted in a referendum in favor of constitutional reform. As a result, Mirsijoyev could remain at the helm of the former Soviet republic until 2040.
The new constitution had previously been passed by the lower and upper houses. It will extend the current legislative period from five to seven years. It remains the case that a president can only rule for two terms. However, the reform will set Mirsiyoyev’s previous term of office to zero. In addition, he can also compete in the next election in 2026
With a similar approach, Russia’s President Putin secured the possibility of an otherwise unconstitutional re-election in 2021.
Hardly any criticism of the reform
In the amended constitution, the Central Asian country is declared a welfare state. In doing so, it commits itself to increased services for poorer citizens. The death penalty is abolished. The extension of democratic principles in the constitution was a demand of Uzbek civil rights activists. There was little resistance to the reform, particularly to the expansion of presidential powers.
Mirsiyoyev has been President of Uzbekistan since 2016. The 65-year-old rules the country in an authoritarian manner. In recent years he has opened up the country’s economy and improved relations with the West. In addition, the powers of the security services were curtailed under him.