Tajikistan: Referendum, 22 May 2016

At stake in this election:

• This referendum will determine if amendments to the constitution will be made. One proposed amendment will address term limits for current president Emomali RAHMON, another seeks to change the minimum age for presidential candidates, and a third will limit the basis on which political parties may be formed.[1]

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994)
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013)
• Assembly: Tajikistan has a bicameral Majlisi Oli (Supreme Assembly) consisting of the Majlisi Milli (National Assembly) with 33 seats and the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Assembly of Representatives) with 63.

Main provisions in the referendum:

• This referendum will have multiple provisions:
  • One provision would add an amendment allowing for President RAHMON to run for the office of president indefinitely.
  • A second provision would add an amendment lowering the minimum age for presidential candidates from 35 to 30.  
  • A third provision would add an amendment banning the establishment of parties based on religious platforms.
• The provisions in this referendum will be presented to the voters as a single package asking if the voter accepts all of the proposed amendments to the constitution.

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 8,191,958 (July 2015 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 4,319,000 (2015)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,116,909 (July 2015 est.)

·         Is Tajikistan a signatory to CEDAW: N/A

·         Has Tajikistan ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (26 October 1993)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 14 (14.58%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 129 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Tajikistan a signatory to CRPD: No

·         Has Tajikistan ratified CRPD: No

·         Population with a disability: 1,228,794