This Saturday, March 12, is the early presidential election in Turkmenistan, one of the most closed dictatorships in the world. A month ago, President Gourbangouli Berdymoukhamedov, in power in 2007, surprised by announcing this early election where everything is clearly organized so that it is his son Serdar who succeeds him.
With our correspondent for Central Asia, Regis Gente
There is no doubt about this given the absolute control of the regime by the head of state, who rules this country of 6 million inhabitants, in particular by means of the cult of personality.
This March 12, Turkmen President Gourbangouli Berdymukhamedov, 64, will take the plunge by installing his son Serdar, 40, at the head of the Republic of Turkmenistan, which has the fourth proven reserves of natural gas on the planet.
Berdymukhamedov at the head of the Senate
Even if the discreet son of the Head of State was prepared for the succession as early as 2018, Berdymukhamedov’s decision came as a surprise. No doubt it was precipitated by the demonstrations in early January in neighboring Kazakhstan. Demonstrations that turned violent precisely because of an unsettled succession scenario.
However, Gourbangouli Berdymoukhamedov did not leave power completely. He should take the head of the Senate, a body with an essentially ceremonial role that practice could change, in this country where no counter-power remains, after three decades of a dictatorship as severe as it is absurd.
