2023 Uzbek presidential election

2023 Uzbek presidential election

9 July 2023
Registered	19,593,838
Turnout	79.88% ( 0.54pp)
Nominee Shavkat Mirziyoyev Robakhon Makhmudova Party Independent ASDP Popular vote 13,625,055 693,634 Percentage 87.71% 4.47%
President before election Shavkat Mirziyoyev OʻzLiDeP Elected President Shavkat Mirziyoyev Independent (OʻzLiDeP/MTDP)

Early presidential elections were held in Uzbekistan on 9 July 2023.[1] The early election was called after the approval of the constitutional referendum where term limits were reset and president Shavkat Mirziyoyev can serve two more seven-year terms.[1][2]

Background

See also: 2023 Uzbek constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Uzbekistan on 30 April 2023.[3] It was held on proposed constitutional amendments.[4]

Parliament approved the referendum on 15 March 2023.[5] The amendments were accepted in the referendum with over 90% in support, which will allow Mirziyoyev to be president for two further terms if re-elected.[6][7][8]

The Uzbekistan legislation requires at least 33% of eligible voters to take part in the presidential elections, otherwise, the elections will be pronounced invalid. The law also provides for a second round if none of the candidates receives more than 50% of the vote.[9] In practice, neither of these events have yet occurred, as every presidential election winner since the country's independence in 1991 has won with over 80% of the vote on a turnout of over 79%, and each incumbent standing for re-election has been re-elected.

Candidates

Name, birth year and party		Political offices	Registration date
Abdushukur Xamzayev (1973) Ecological Party		Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan (since 2022)[10] Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Ecological Party (since 2023)[10]	11 May 2023[10]
Ulugbek Inoyatov (1962)[11] O‘XDP		Minister of National Education (2013[11]–2018[12]) Chairman of O‘XDP (since 2019)[12]	12 May 2023[12]
Robaxon Maxmudova (1968)[13] Adolat		First Deputy Chairwoman of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan (since 2020)[13]	12 May 2023[13]
Shavkat Mirziyoyev (1957) Independent (suggested by O‘zLiDeP and Milliy Tiklanish)[14]		President of Uzbekistan (since 2016)[15] Prime Minister of Uzbekistan (2003–2016)[15]	12 May 2023[14]

Conduct

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said that the elected "lacked genuine political competition despite some efforts to reform." Their report mentioned "indications of ballot box stuffing as well as numerous observations of seemingly identical signatures on the voter lists," noting that "None of the registered candidates publicly criticized the current president or presented alternative political views and the campaign remained low key throughout, with observers noting that events often appeared orchestrated."[16] The mission did, however, highly appreciate preparations for presidential elections.[17]

Results

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was re-elected with 88% of the vote. The preliminary results of the presidential elections were announced at a briefing by the chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan, Zainiddin Nizamkhojaev. More than 15 million voters participated in elections.[18]

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Shavkat Mirziyoyev	Independent	13,625,055	87.71
	Robaxon Maxmudova	Justice Social Democratic Party	693,634	4.47
	Ulugbek Inoyatov	People's Democratic Party	629,116	4.05
	Abdushukur Xamzayev	Ecological Party of Uzbekistan	585,711	3.77
Total			15,533,516	100.00
Valid votes			15,533,516	99.25
Invalid/blank votes			117,889	0.75
Total votes			15,651,405	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			19,593,838	79.88
Source: CEC

International reactions

•  Kazakhstan: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan was the first to congratulate his colleague on the victory. President Tokayev described the results of the presidential election as proof of people’s support of the current Uzbek president’s political course aimed at ensuring the sustainable growth, stability and prosperity of Uzbekistan, the president’s press service said.[19]
•  Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday congratulated Mirziyoyev in a message published on the Kremlin website. "This convincing electoral victory confirms your high political authority and points to the broad, popular support for your policy of large-scale reforms," Putin said.[20]
•  China: President and General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi Jinping also offered congratulations as well as praise for Mirziyoyev's leadership. "I am willing to work with you to promote the continuous development of the China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership and inject new impetus into the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future".[20]

References

1. "Uzbekistan's leader calls for snap presidential election in July". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
2. "Uzbekistan announces early presidential election for July 9". Trend.Az. May 8, 2023.
3. "Uzbekistan announces constitutional reform referendum". Bloomberg. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
4. "Final Draft of Constitutional Amendments Reportedly Ready in Uzbekistan". The Diplomat. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
5. "Uzbekistan announces constitutional reform referendum". PR Newswire. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
6. "Референдумнинг дастлабки натижалари эълон қилинди". Kun.uz.
7. "Uzbekistan votes 'yes' to new constitution in victory for president". Nikkei Asia.
8. "ЦИК Узбекистана: Более 90% проголосовавших поддержали поправки в Конституцию". Радио Озодлик (in Russian). May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
9. "Elections in Uzbekistan: 2023 Presidential Elections". International Foundation for Electoral Systems. 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
10. "Стал известен первый кандидат в президенты Узбекистана" (in Russian). kun.uz. 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
11. "Иноятов Улугбек Ильясович" (in Russian). arboblar.uz. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
12. "Улугбек Иноятов станет кандидатом в президенты" (in Russian). kun.uz. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
13. "Среди кандидатов в президенты Узбекистана появилась женщина" (in Russian). kun.uz. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
14. "Шавкат Мирзиёев будет выдвинут кандидатом в президенты Узбекистана" (in Russian). kun.uz. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
15. "Uzbekistan Names Longtime PM Mirziyaev Interim President". Radio Free Europe. 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
16. "Uzbekistan's presidential election lacked genuine political competition despite some efforts to reform, international observers say". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
17. "OSCE/ODIHR Mission Highly Appreciated Preparations for Presidential Elections in Uzbekistan". July 12, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
18. "Shavkat Mirziyoyev re-elected President of Uzbekistan". Azernews.Az. 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
19. Bassarova, Olesya (July 10, 2023). "Uzbekistan finalizes results of presidential elections". Kursiv Media Kazakhstan.
20. "Uzbekistan's leader reelected with 87% of the vote". DW.