ASHGABAT, February 17 (Itar-Tass) — The final results of the February 12 presidential election were announced on Wednesday at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Turkmenistan. Eight candidates, including incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov participated in the election.
A total of 96.7 percent of eligible voters or 2,888,887 citizens came to the polls, CEC chairman Orazmyrat Niyazlyev said. Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov scored the largest number of votes - 97.14 percent (2,806,265 votes), “whom the CEC regards as president-elect of Turkmenistan,” he said.
Berdymukhamedov expressed gratitude to all those who came to the polls.
“I perceive the strong support from the people as a result of my activities on the presidential post,” he said.
Speaking about his plans, Berdymukhamedov noted that “all the rights and freedoms of citizens will be strictly and fully observed in our sovereign state, in accordance with the Constitution of the country. Conditions for a multiparty system, as well as for the development of market relations will be created.”
In its foreign policy course, Turkmenistan will continue to rely on the status of neutrality, he said.
Turkmenistan has remained a one-party state during all 20 years of its independence. The Democratic Party is headed by the president. The law “On political parties,” allowing a multi-party system, was for the first time adopted in January 2012.