|
|
 |
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov Elected to Take Over Turkmenistan
As many as 89.23 percent in Turkmenistan voted for Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov at the presidential elections, announced Murad Karryev, chief of the Central Election Commission of the country.
Berdymukhammedov’s closest rival in the presidential race – Amanniyaz Atadzhikov – was supported by less than 4 percent of the voters, while another formal runner, Ishankuli Nuryev, gathered just 2.38 percent during the elections attended by 98.65 percent, i.e. over 2,677,000 voters in Turkmenistan.
Berdymukhammedov officially took over the country for the following five years once he was approved by the parliament and swore the oath. In Turkmenistan, the president is also the commander-in-chief and prime minister of the country.
During inauguration, the new president vowed to honor international commitments of Turkmenistan, increase the number of jobs, maintain social benefits, introduce compulsory secondary education of ten years, revive physical training lessons and learning foreign languages. Berdymukhammedov also promised to develop private business and fund public health.
The inaugurating meeting of Turkmen parliament was attended by presidents and prime ministers of a number of countries. Russia was represented by Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.
Turkmenistan held presidential elections once its Turkmenbashi for life, Saparmurat Niyazov, died December 21 of the cardiac failure.
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, 49, is a dentist by education. He had been deputy prime minister since 2001 but advanced to acting president after Niyazov’s death.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
