1994 Turkmen presidential term referendum

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Politics of Turkmenistan

A referendum on extending President Saparmurat Niyazov's term until 2002 was held in Turkmenistan on 15 January 1994.[1] Official results showed that the proposal was approved by 99.99% of voters, with a 100% turnout.[1]

Background

In 1985,

Muhammad Gapusov, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkmenistan.[2] This replacement was part of the Central Asian purges in the wake of the Uzbek cotton corruption scandal.[2] In January 1990 Niyazov was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic and was appointed as its chairman.[1][2] Two months later, Niyazov was elected by the Supreme Soviet to the new office of president.[1] Following in the footsteps of his predecessor(s), Niyazov prevented Gorbachev-era reforms from having any tangible effect on what was among the most conservative federal republics of USSR.[1][2] Opposition groups were routinely disbanded and members exiled on charges of anti-Soviet activities.[2]

In October 1990 his presidency was "unanimously" confirmed by the masses.[1] A year later he led Turkmenistan to secede from the Soviet Union despite an initial reluctance, and decreed a new constitution that promulgated a presidential government.[2][3] The political atmosphere of the newly independent state remained as conservative as before, with Niyazov finding "classic, democratic formulas [..] that worked out in some prosperous Western country" unsuitable for Turkmenistan.[2] In 1992 Niyazov was re-elected unopposed as president, receiving over 98% of the vote.[1] Following these victories, Niyazov went further in manifesting a totalitarian regime based on a cult of personality.[1][2][3]

Question

Voters were asked to decide whether to prolong the term of President Niyazov by six years, until 2002.[1] The question was worded "Do you support extending the term of President Saparmurat Niyazov until 2002?"

Results

According to official statistics, 100% of the registered voters (1,959,637) participated in the referendum.[1]

ChoiceVotes%
For1,959,40899.99
Against2120.01
Total1,959,620100.00
Valid votes1,959,620100.00
Invalid/blank votes170.00
Total votes1,959,637100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,959,637100.00
Source: Nohlen et al.[1]

Aftermath

The promised elections were not held in 2002 as Niyazov had himself declared President for life by the Assembly on 28 December 1999.[1] He would rule until his death in 2006.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-19-924958-9
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Al-Bassam, Kareem (1997). "The Evolution of Authoritarianism in Turkmenistan" (PDF). Demokratizatsiya: The Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization. 5 (3): 386–405.
  3. ^
    ISSN 0263-4937
    .
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