A meeting of the Mejlis of the fourth convocation has been called on January 9. The organizational issues and debates of the important bills are on the agenda of the Parliamentary session – the first one after the 14 December parliamentary elections were held.

The beginning of the work of the new Parliament marks a landmark in the new historical epoch symbolized by the democratic transformations and progressive reforms initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and aimed at strengthening and replenishing the achievements of independence, laying the foundation of wellbeing of the Motherland, happiness and welfare of the Turkmen people.

Turkmenistan’s adherence to this policy were proved to the full extent by the December parliamentary elections which drawn a worldwide response. The broad alternative basis, equal opportunities for the parliamentary candidates, openness and transparency – all of these allows stating that the important social and political action was held in strict compliance with the national legislation and international law norms. Thus, about 2,130 national observers monitored all the stages of the electoral process. For the first time 60 international observers and experts representing the European countries and the authoritative international organisations – the United Nations, OSCE, the CIS Executive Committee were drawn to Turkmenistan on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to monitor the election campaign and the parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan. Another novelty of the 2008 parliamentary elections was opening 27 polling stations at the embassies and consular offices of Turkmenistan in the foreign countries for our compatriots who stay abroad.

What is more important is that the elections to national Parliament held in the atmosphere of unprecedented spiritual elevation and civil activity vividly demonstrated the unity and solidarity of the Turkmen society, increased civil consciousness and citizens’ awareness of the responsibility for the future of the country. The elected representatives of the people who received the mandate of the people’s confidence are to deal with a broad range of the tasks to lay the solid legal foundation for the further political, social and economic and cultural development of the Turkmen state. That is President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov aims the deputies of Turkmen parliament at focusing on the new status of the Mejlis and considerably expanded powers of the deputies legally secured in the new Constitution of Turkmenistan adopted at the nationwide forum.

In accordance with the constitutional amendments Halk Maslakhaty which had accomplished its historic mission was disbanded. The functions of Halk Maslakhaty were delegated to the President and the Mejlis the membership of which were doubled – 125 deputies.

Out of 287 candidates standing in the parliamentary elections 123 were elected to the Mejlis. These included 13 candidates in Ashgabat, 19 candidates in Ahal Velayat, 11 candidates in Balkan Velayat, 26 candidates in Dashoguz Velayat, 26 candidates in Lebap Velayat and 28 candidates in Mary Velayat. Two or more candidates stood for one mandate in 125 election districts throughout the country. In Election District 84 in Lebap Velayat the candidates did not poll the required quantity of votes. The repeated voting for 2 candidates who had polled a majority of votes was held on December 28. The repeated voting will be held in an election district in Mary Velayat this February.

Thus, as the continuation of the legal and constitutional reforms initiated by the Turkmen leader the elections to the Mejlis of IV convocation marked the beginning of a new stage of building the Turkmen state and the fundamental social and economic reforms aimed at laying the solid economic and humanitarian foundation for the further progress of the country taking account of the realities of the new times and grandiose tasks set to the Turkmen nation in the third millennium. To achieve these goals the newly elected members of the national Parliament are to draft and pass the bills aimed at further strengthening the basis of independence and prosperity of the Turkmen state, cementing the unity and stability of the Turkmen society.