2021 Uzbek presidential election

2021 Uzbek presidential election
← 2016 24 October 2021 2023 →
Turnout80.42% (Decrease 7.31pp)
 
Maqsuda Vorisova (10.06.2022).jpg
Nominee Shavkat Mirziyoyev Maqsuda Vorisova Alisher Qodirov
Party OʻzLiDeP XDP Milliy Tiklanish
Popular vote 12,988,964 1,075,016 888,515
Percentage 80.31% 6.65% 5.49%
Results by region
President before election

Shavkat Mirziyoyev
OʻzLiDeP

Elected President

Shavkat Mirziyoyev
OʻzLiDeP

Politics of Uzbekistan

Commonwealth of Independent States CIS Member State

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Presidential elections were held in Uzbekistan on 24 October 2021.[1] This was the sixth presidential election held since independence. Incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev won a second term with a majority 80.1% of the vote, although faring the lowest performance for an incumbent in terms of vote share since 1991. Maqsuda Vorisova from the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (XDP) was the runner-up and Alisher Qodirov from the Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party (Milliy Tiklanish) came third, which marked the first time that more than two candidates had officially received more than 5% of the vote.

Mirziyoyev was widely expected to win the official count by a large margin.[2] Two prominent opposition figures had declared their intention to run against Mirziyoyev, but were repeatedly refused registration for their nominating parties by the authorities, with one of the candidates, celebrity singer Jahongir Otajonov, who was backed by the banned Erk Democratic Party (EDP), being withdrawn from the race due to apparent political intimidation.[3][4] Khidirnazar Allakulov, a former rector, attempted to contest the race by creating his own political party named Truth and Progress Social Democratic Party (HTSDP) in the process which was denied registration as well, thus making him unqualified to run and leaving no opposition candidates to appear on the ballot.[5][6]

In the aftermath of the election, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) issued a statement: "Despite recent welcoming reforms Uzbekistan's presidential election lacked genuine competition and significant procedural irregularities were noted on election day."[7] Observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) described the presidential election as "competitive, free, open and transparent."[8]

Shavkat Mirziyoyev was inaugurated for his second term on 6 November.[9] He was sworn in at the senate building at the joint session of the two chambers of the Parliament.[10][11]

  1. ^ "Uzbekistan Moves Elections to October". Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Paving The Way For The Uzbek President's Reselection". RFE/RL. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. ^ Pannier, Bruce (18 July 2021). "Eliminating Presidential Candidates In Central Asia". RFE/RL. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  4. ^ Pannier, Bruce (6 July 2021). "Paving The Way For The Uzbek President's Reselection". RFE/RL. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  5. ^ PIKULICKA-WILCZEWSKA, AGNIESZKA (25 October 2021). "Uzbekistan's incumbent leader wins 2nd term in office". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Uzbekistan leader poised for easy win in competition-free vote". France 24. 25 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Despite recent reforms Uzbekistan's presidential election lacked genuine competition, international observers say". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  8. ^ "CIS observers describe Uzbekistan presidential election as competitive, free, open and transparent". eng.belta.by. 25 October 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  9. ^ ""We made a strategy for the development of new Uzbekistan, discussed it with the people"". The Korea Post (in Korean). 8 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  10. ^ "INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT SHAVKAT MIRZIYOYEV HELD IN TASHKENT". FLEDU.UZ. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Shavkat Mirziyoyev announces the new Uzbekistan's development strategy". Kun.uz. Retrieved 13 November 2021.