NEWS
DRAFT LAW ON AMENDMENTS AND ADDENDUMS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF TURKMENISTAN IS APPROVED
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held video conference session of the Constitutional Commission for development and compilation of proposal related to amendments and addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, which was established according to the Decree of the Head of the State singed in September last year.
Opening the session and addressing the members of the Constitutional Commission, the Head of the State noted that very important event in life of the country, historical session of the People’s Council, where new stage of constitutional reforms in the country have been started and initiatives about improvement of the Main Law of Turkmenistan have been made, took place on September 25, 2019.
The main goa of our reforms is to modernize activity of representative power authorities, i.e. the People’s Council and National Parliament, which will serve to the highest value of the state and society, to the human, its interests as well as to establish two-chamber body, which carries out legal making activity, to bring activity of democratic institute to higher level, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted.
It was mentioned before that we have very important and responsible objectives in this direction, which are required for further democratization of the state and public life, the Head of the State continued. In this context, the Constitutional Commission for development and compilation of proposals related to amendments and addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan has been established. The first session of the Commission has been held on October 4 last year.
Three sessions of the Constitutional Commission have been held since then, the Head of the State said. Working plan of the Commission has been approved, specific objectives have been given, organizational measures have been outlined at the first session. Reports on planned work carried out by the Commission have been presented. Having analyzed performed work, the developed draft has been published in media.
The Working Group, which has been established under National Parliament, has also carried out certain work for study, analysis and compilation of numerous proposals from the population, political parties, public organizations, profile departments, establishments and organizations, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted.
Developing initial draft Constitutional Law on amendments and addendums of the Constitution of the country, National Parliament worked closely with the Cabinet of Ministers, relative ministries and profile departments, arranged reception, analysis and compilation of proposals from citizens, political parties, public associations of the country and local power authorities.
The President has stated that these works were carried out taking into account the proposals from the deputies of National Parliament, relative ministries, profile departments, scientific and educational institutes, political parties as well as public organizations and citizens
According to the plan of the Working group under the Constitutional Commission, the Draft Constitutional Law on Amendments and Addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, which has been reviewed in details at the third session of the Commission, the Leader of the Nation noted. The draft law has been published in mass media for detailed awareness of the citizens.
Taking into account fulfilled work, it is necessary to discuss the main objectives related to improvement of the Constitution of the country and initial draft of Constitutional Law on Amendments and Addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, the Head of the State highlighted. This draft has been developed in accordance with current objectives as well as taken received proposals into consideration.
After, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave floor to Chairman of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan A. Serdarov.
Speaking on behalf of public organizations of the country, the leader of the DPT noted that our country has entered new level on its way of progressive development. It was highlighted that the elders, youth, cultural personnel, workers of different branches comprehensively support political and legal reforms and transformation programmes initiated by the President at the second session of the People’s Council.
It was mentioned that public organization of the country take an active part in explanation of goals and objectives of the government policy aimed at the sake of the people.
The Chairman of the DPT noted that reforms related to amendments and addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, which are in the final stage, raise big interest in the country and on international level.
Turkmenistan citizens show full understanding of reforms aimed at strengthening of democratic processes in the country, expansion of constitutional rights of the people, improvement of national legal making system.
Political and public organizations, representatives of local authorities, cultural and humanitarian sphere, law enforcement agencies, deputies and public took part in organization and conduct of the above-mentioned events. Thousands of the citizens made their proposals during discussion stage of the Draft Constitutional Law on Amendments and Addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan.
Speaking of importance of constitutional reforms implemented this year, the speaker has noted that establishment of two-chamber Parliament would be a historical event in democratic development of Turkmenistan.
In the end of the speech, on behalf of public organizations of the country, the Chairman of the DPT has wished strong health and new success in his noble activity to the Head of the State.
Minister of Justice B. Muhamedov, who was speaking next, highlighted big importance of the beginnings of the Head of Turkmenistan for modernization of activity of national legislative body, which is to provide legal base of political, social and economic reforms in the country.
Complex of relative works has been specified at the sessions of the Constitutional Commission for successful implementation of legal reforms. In this regard, the Ministry of Justice has presented proposals developed based on the study of national and world practice, universal standards of international law to the Working Group established under National Parliament of Turkmenistan.
Authorities and responsibilities of the chambers of legislative body, drafts of relative standards have been developed. It was highlighted that special attention has been paid to strengthening of guarantee of rights and freedoms of human and citizens, support of the balance of interests of the state, society and citizen.
Explanatory activity has been arranged at the facilities, establishments, high educational institutes, among military personnel for awareness of the population about the meaning and political and legal importance of reforms, provision of regular information to Turkmenistan citizens about measures taken in this direction.
It was informed that the Ministry of Justice has comprehensively analyzed existing legal acts. At present time, this work is continued. The Minister highlighted that integrated democratic changes expanded by the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov would serve as reliable foundation for further steadfast development of Turkmenistan.
Further, the floor was given to Speaker of National Parliament G. Mammedova. It was mentioned that big work has been carried out for making relative amendments and addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, which was carried out according to the plan approved by the Head of the State at the first session of the Constitutional Commission. Targeted measures have been taken for explanation of historical significance of these reforms and draft of relative Constitutional Law to the population.
Numerous meetings, scientific and practical conferences have been held in ministries, profile departments, at the facilities and establishments as well as in educational institutes. Thematic articles and exchange of opinions have also been organized on the pages of periodic publications and mass media.
Starting from October 2019, thousands of proposals, in which people expressed their support to the initiatives of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov based on international practice and experience of the ancestors in governing of the state and society, in other words on historical roots, have been received by the Working Group under Constitutional Commission.
None of these proposals was left without attention, they all have been studied and analyzed at regular sessions of the above-mentioned group. Offsite sessions of the Group have also been held in the regions.
It was mentioned that activity of the Working Group is based on study of international practice of establishment of two-chamber legislative body as well as on bringing of amendments and addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan in compliance with century-old democratic principles of Turkmen people.
The Speaker of National Parliament said that Draft Constitutional Law, according to which it was decided to remove one article, add 3 articles and make amendments and addendums of 27 articles, has been developed with active participation of the people and taking into account all opinions expressed by the citizens of the country, which was specially highlighted by the Head of the State.
Having expressed gratitude for conditions made for organized work related to further steadfast democratization of the country to Turkmen leader, the Speaker of National Parliament wished strong health and new success in colossal activity for the sake of the nation to Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Summing up the speeches, the President of Turkmenistan noted that the draft Constitutional Law on Amendments and Addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan raised big interest of the people.
According to the information of the Working Group established under the Constitutional Commission, having supported the proposal to name the Parliament of the country National Council of Turkmenistan, thousands of our citizens have spoken and made their proposals att he sessions and in mass media.
The proposal on establishment of two-chamber structure of National Parliament, naming off its chambers as the People’s Council and Parliament have also received wide support, the Head of Turkmenistan stated.
Full support of provisions on number of representatives from regions and Ashgabat in the composition of the People’s Council chamber of our Parliament, order of their election and appointment, requirements for the candidates to members of the People’s Council and period of their office laid out in the Draft Constitutional Law indicates that proposals of the citizens have been taken into account during development of the Draft, the President highlighted.
Having approved the order of the formation of the composition of the People’s Council, numerous citizens of the country gave their recommendations according to positive world practice as well as for expansion of authorities, improvement of prestige of regional and Ashgabat people’s councils and strengthening of their positions in society as local representative authorities, which are entitled to form up the composition of the People’s Council.
For better formulation, it was proposed to point out in Article 78 that “composition of the People’s Council includes eight representatives from each region and Ashgabat, who are elected by secret ballot at the sessions of the People’s Councils of the regions and Ashgabat. The order of their election is set by the law”, the Head of the State continued, having highlighted the relevance of this proposal.
At the same time, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that provision on non-admission of election and work of the same person in both chambers of National Parliament, which was laid out in Draft Law, has received full support of people.
In this regard, Turkmen leader has spoken for the necessity of inclusion of the above-mentioned provision to the Main Law for provision for democratic initiatives and social justice in the country. The Head of the State expressed the confidence that it would be very important in new ideological enrichment of the principle of social equality of our people, which has been tested by centuries.
Thousands of proposals have come to support specific provisions related to the sessions of the chambers of National Council and their authorities laid out in the Draft Constitutional Law.
Speaking of this, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that detailed presentation of this subject in constitutional provisions would make favourable conditions for development of parliamentary activity of legislative government body according to time requirements.
At the same time, there were many proposals on appointment of elections, full understanding of the authorities of the People’s Council. Based on the proposals, it was suggested to add the fourth paragraph – “appoints the elections of the members of the People’s Council;”, in the list of authorities of the People’s Council under two designations of the Article 80, and to assign this authority to the People’s Council. In this regard, the head of the State has spoken for the relevance of adoption of the above-mentioned proposals.
Having said that the right to appoint the first elections of the members of the People’s Council is proposed to be given to the President of Turkmenistan, the Head of the State noted that it would be relevant to lay out these rules in Part VI of the Constitutional Law.
The Head of Turkmenistan has also highlighted that numerous proposals have come from our people in support of the provision, which clearly defines the order of adoption of the laws, in the Draft Constitutional Law. The reason is that presentation of the laws adopted by the Parliament to the People’s Council for review according to the provisions laid out in the draft demonstrates that these legal acts are reviewed from the position of assertion of the highest priority of the state interests.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that it would be also relevant for coherent work of two chambers, which is aimed at coordination of activity of each other in the interests of the state and society.
In this context, it is relevant to lay out in the Article 83 (I) that “in case of rejection of the Law of Turkmenistan by the People’s Council, the chambers may establish a conciliation commission and after this, the Law is subject to review by the Parliament”, which would be more relevant and would explain this subject better, the President said.
Information and reports on performed work aimed at realization of initiated reforms for improvement of activity of legislative representative body have been listened at the current session of the Constitutional Commission.
At the same time, the Head of Turkmenistan has stated with delight direct participation of our people in performed work for amendments and addendums of the Main Law related to the establishment of two-chamber structures of National Parliament and wide support of these reforms.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to all who took active part in historically important event of social and political life of the country – organized works aimed at improvement of efficiency of activity of legislative representative body and the role of National Parliament.
Development of the draft Constitutional law was carried out following the goals of improvement of the state structure, gained experience on the way of national development and positive world practice. In this regard, the President has ordered the Mejlis to make analysis of relative national legislation related to this Law as well as to continue work on making relative amendments and addendums.
Brining of activity of legislative body of the country in compliance with modern realities would allow National Parliament representing all levels of Turkmen society, solving actual current objectives, fundamentally improving the situation in development and implementation of laws, the Head of the State highlighted.
It will also make favourable conditions for establishment of closer relations between deputies and electorate, efficient control of fulfilment of laws and national programmes. It will give an opportunity to bring legislative activity of the parliament to new level, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted.
Therefore, the Parliament of our country will turn into national representative body with wide responsibilities and authorities. It would enter the history as a millstone, which has big importance in democratization of life of the state society, the President said.
- Our Constitution defines human being as the highest values of the society and state, protection, support and service to human being are the main objectives of the state power authorities. These are the main provisions defining the government policy. Our initiative on transit to new parliamentary system also follows from these provisions laid out in the Main Law, - President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said. – It is our sacred duty to bequeath a sovereign state, which is developed in the main directions, to future generations.
It is seen from the speeches on the draft Constitutional Law under discussion that having fully supported proposed initiative on establishment of two-chamber legislative representative body of the country, our people took active part in constitutional reforms, the Head of the State noted.
The Draft comprehensively considers proposals received from ministries, departments, scientific institutes, public associations and citizens. Members of the Constitutional Commission and representatives of relative government authorities and public associations have carried out historically important and significant work, which was highlighted in details at the sessions of the Commissions. therefore, the Head of Turkmenistan stated, the work on the draft Constitutional Law on Amendments and Addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan has to be considered as accomplished.
In this context, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that it is necessary to organize discussion of the Draft Constitutional Law with representatives of the regions, districts and citizens, who would take part in the next session of the People’s Council, and following this, to present the Draft for review of nation-wide forum and if it would be approved, to send it to the Mejlis for review.
In general, it is necessary to continue the activity for full awareness of the citizens of Turkmenistan on importance of works for improvement of the Constitution, the Head of the State highlighted, having expressed the confidence that constitutional reforms implemented in our independent neutral state would allow providing wide freedoms and rights of human being and citizen.
The President of the country has also expressed the confidence that members of the Constitutional Commission and Working group would continue working together, perform their work and would manage deservingly with set objectives.
After, the Head of the State has signed the Resolution of the Constitutional Commission on approval of the Draft Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan on Amendments and Addendums of the Constitution of Turkmenistan and on inclusion to the agenda of the People’s Council.
Finishing final fourth session of the Constitutional Commission, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished strong health and big success in responsible work to all participants.