ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) — Turkmenistan established a political dynasty Tuesday, as authorities mentioned the son of the Central Asian nation’s chief gained its presidential election after an uncommon vote-counting delay.
Serdar Berdymukhamedov, 40, was the overwhelming favourite in Saturday’s election to steer the remoted, gas-rich nation and succeed his father, Gurbanguly. The central election fee mentioned Serdar Berdymukhamedov gained 72.97% of the votes.
His nearest rival in a discipline of 9 candidates was college official Khyrdyr Nunnayev, who gained 11%.
There was an surprising anticipate the consequence, after authorities mentioned Sunday they wanted extra time to depend the votes. Central election fee chairman Gulmyrat Myradov instructed reporters that votes have been nonetheless being counted, together with these from folks dwelling overseas, and that preliminary outcomes would possible be reported Monday.
Turkmenistan sometimes broadcasts preliminary election outcomes on the next day, comparable to when the elder Berdymukhamedov gained reelection with greater than 97% of the vote in 2017. No election in Turkmenistan, which grew to become unbiased with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, has been thought of genuinely aggressive.
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Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, 64, introduced the vote final month, saying the nation must be run by youthful folks. He had been the nation’s chief since he was first appointed performing president when the eccentric Saparmurat Niyazov died in December 2006.
The nation has lengthy been troublesome for outsiders to enter, and has not reported a single case of an infection within the coronavirus pandemic. It additionally has struggled to diversify its economic system, overwhelmingly depending on huge pure gasoline reserves.
The elder Berdymukhamedov established a cult of character with the title Arkadag, or Protector, and was eager to indicate his bodily health with stunts together with driving sports activities vehicles, goal capturing and hoisting a gold weightlifting bar to applause from his cupboard. Below his rule, China changed Russia as the primary purchaser for Turkmenistan’s huge gasoline reserves.
Serdar Berdymukhamedov has risen by means of a sequence of more and more outstanding authorities posts and most not too long ago has served because the nation’s deputy prime minister, answering on to his father. He not too long ago turned 40, the minimal age for president based on the Turkmen regulation.
“My primary objective is to proceed on the wonderful path of improvement constructed throughout 30 years of independence and to efficiently implement packages aimed toward guaranteeing a excessive stage of social circumstances for the folks,” Serdar Berdymukhamedov mentioned whereas presenting his platform in a televised speech.
Talking to reporters after casting his poll, he vowed to proceed the nation’s impartial international coverage if elected.
Through the marketing campaign, all candidates praised Berdymukhamedov’s father, who mentioned he’ll retain the put up of the pinnacle of the nation’s higher home of parliament.
On voting day, folks dancers and singers carried out as loud music blared from loudspeakers at polling stations. Engulfing the stations have been fumes from burning harmala, a plant broadly utilized in Turkmenistan to fumigate properties and public areas to assist forestall the unfold of infectious ailments.
Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.
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