Government and Politics of Turkmenistan

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty

Legal System

based on civil law system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkmenistan dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 19 March 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 19 March 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Raşit MEREDOW serves as Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president note: Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW, son of longtime ruler Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, won the February 2022 presidential election and assumed office in March 2022. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, who had led the country since 2006 following the death of Saparmurat NIYAZOV, subsequently assumed the role of Chairman of the upper house of parliament (Halk Maslahaty), retaining significant political influence. The Halk Maslahaty was reconstituted as the upper chamber of a bicameral legislature in 2021, expanding the formal structures of government while power continues to remain highly centralized. elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held on 12 March 2022 election results: Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW elected president; percent of vote - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW approximately 72.97%, with several other candidates appearing on the ballot in an election widely regarded by international observers as lacking genuine political competition

Legislative Branch

Turkmenistan's legislative structure has undergone significant changes since the country's post-Soviet constitution was first adopted. Following a series of constitutional reforms, the parliament was reorganized into a bicameral system. The upper chamber, the Halk Maslahaty (National Council), consists of 56 seats, with 48 members elected by popular vote and 8 members appointed by the president, serving five-year terms. The lower chamber, the Mejlis (Assembly), consists of 125 seats, with members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. Elections: Halk Maslahaty - last held on 26 March 2021; Mejlis - last held on 26 March 2021, with the next elections due in 2026. Election results: Mejlis - seats by party - Democratic Party of Turkmenistan 55, Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan 11, Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs 11, independent candidates and others 48. All elected officials operate within a political environment tightly controlled by the ruling authority, and genuine political competition remains severely restricted. Note: Constitutional amendments adopted in 2021 formalized the bicameral structure, replacing the previous arrangement in which the Halk Maslahaty functioned as a supreme non-standing body above the Mejlis. Under the current system, the president retains dominant authority over both chambers. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who succeeded longtime leader Saparmurat Niyazov in 2007, ruled until 2022, when his son Serdar Berdimuhamedov assumed the presidency. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov subsequently became Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, continuing to wield substantial political influence. The ruling Democratic Party of Turkmenistan remains the dominant political force, and independent political activity is not meaningfully permitted.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political Parties

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Saparmurat NIYAZOV] note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; the two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been National Democratic Movement of Turkmenistan (NDMT) and the United Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (UDPT); NDMT was led by former Foreign Minister Boris SHIKHMURADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25 November 2002 assassination attempt on President NIYAZOV; UDPT is led by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is based out of Moscow

Head of State

President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW

Head of Government

President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW

Cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

Elections

Halk Maslahaty - last held on 26 March 2021; Mejlis - last held on 26 March 2021, with the next elections due in 2026.

Election Results

Mejlis - seats by party - Democratic Party of Turkmenistan 55, Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan 11, Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs 11, independent candidates and others 48. All elected officials operate within a political environment tightly controlled by the ruling authority, and genuine political competition remains severely restricted. Note: Constitutional amendments adopted in 2021 formalized the bicameral structure, replacing the previous arrangement in which the Halk Maslahaty functioned as a supreme non-standing body above the Mejlis. Under the current system, the president retains dominant authority over both chambers. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who succeeded longtime leader Saparmurat Niyazov in 2007, ruled until 2022, when his son Serdar Berdimuhamedov assumed the presidency. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov subsequently became Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, continuing to wield substantial political influence. The ruling Democratic Party of Turkmenistan remains the dominant political force, and independent political activity is not meaningfully permitted.

Constitution

adopted 18 May 1992

Independence

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

International Organization Participation

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Meret Bairamovich ORAZOV chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000 mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-7070 telephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45 FAX: [9] (9312) 39-26-14

Capital City

Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)

Location

37 57 N, 58 23 E

Time Difference

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

derived from the Persian words eshq meaning "love" and abad meaning "inhabited place" or "city," and so loosely translates as "the city of love"

United States Embassy Ashgabat 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street) Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Telephone: (993-12) 94 00 45 Consular Information Line: (993-12) 94 00 49 Facsimile: (993-12) 94 26 14

Military Branches

Turkmen Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces

Service Age and Obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory male military service; 2-year conscript service obligation, or 1 year for university students; 20 years of age for voluntary service; males may enroll in military schools from age 15