Presidential elections began on Sunday, February 12, in Turkmenistan. It is reported by RIA Novosti.
Over 2.5 thousand polling stations opened in Turkmenistan at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT), voting will last until 19:00 (17:00 GMT). Another 39 plots will work at the diplomatic missions of the Republic abroad.
Will be able to vote 3.22 million people, the turnout in the elections is missing — they will be declared valid with any voter turnout. The winner will be the candidate who receives more than half of the votes of voters who took part in the vote.
For the presidency claimed nine candidates — the largest number in the history of elections in Turkmenistan. A favorite is the incumbent head of state Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. His rivals are the candidate of the Party of Industrialists and entrepreneurs Bekmyrat Atalyev, the representative of the Agrarian party Durdygul Orazov, as well as six of the candidates nominated by initiative groups of citizens, reports “Interfax”.
Under the new Constitution of Turkmenistan adopted in September 2016, the presidential term extended from five to seven years. It also abolished the age limit of 70 years for participation in elections of the head of state.
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been President of Turkmenistan since 2007.