On the outcomes of the session of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan

August 02, 2007

On July 30 this year the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan held its regular session. On the initiative of deputies of the faction of Liberal-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDEP) and in line with the Constitutional Law adopted by parliament upon the initiative of President Islam Karimov “On strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country” the lawmakers have elected the Deputy Speakers out of the political party factions represented in Legislative Chamber.

Prior to the adoption of the said Constitutional law the Deputy Speakers of Legislative Chamber could not be elected to the Legislative Chamber committees, to stand as members of the faction and deputy groups, and for over the period of their activities as Deputy Speakers had halted their membership with political parties. And, now unlike the previous practice the Deputy Speakers shall be elected the leaders of political party factions, stand as members of committees, and take an active part in their activities.

The outcomes of the session of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the election of the leaders of political party factions represented in the parliament’s Lower House as Deputy Speakers had broadly resonated among the country’s population, leaders and the members of parties themselves, other lawmakers, as well as scientists, and experts both in Uzbekistan and abroad.

In particular, the decision by the Lower House of Oliy Majlis is considered to be as an important stage in the growth of parliamentary activity, a serious step along enhancing the initiative, role and responsibility of political parties in implementing the social and political reforms, economic and humanitarian building in Uzbekistan. The foreign experts say that thanks to the adoption of Constitutional law the role of deputy groups from political parties is changing at representative bodies of power in the center and provinces.

UzLiDEP has motivated its initiative on electing the Deputy Speakers by the need to gradually, systemically and consistently implement the provisions of Constitutional Law “On strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country”, which had provided for the organizational and legal conditions to raise the social activeness in the country, active participation of political parties in undertaking the democratic, social, political, and economic reforms.

In accomplishing the enormous objectives set in the Constitutional law the special role is reserved for political party factions in the national parliament. This explains the very fact that a number of norms in the President-initiated Constitutional law dwell about the activities of political party factions in the Lower House of a higher legislative body. Thus, the Article 3 of Constitutional Law defines that “the faction of a political party, formed in the Legislative Chamber, has a guaranteed right for one of its representatives to take post of one of the Deputy Speakers of the Legislative Chamber”. In this the Deputy Speakers can stand as members of the Legislative Chamber committees.

The Constitutional Law “On strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country” shall enter into force from January 1, 2008. In this context, the election of Deputy Speakers will allow to consistently and thoroughly prepare for the implementation of its main provisions related, in particular, to providing for the activity of political party factions, including their participation in establishing the bodies of an executive power, development of mechanisms and procedures of considering and adopting the drafts of laws.

The decision on electing the Deputy Speakers from UzLiDEP, Social-Democratic Party “Adolat”, National-Democratic Party “Fidokorlar”, People’s-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, and Democratic Party “Milliy Tiklanish” has been taken with an account of ever-growing competition and factional struggle in considering and passing the drafts of laws, other issues of Chamber’s competence, processes of development of a true multiparty system and political pluralism.