Turkmenistan elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The Elections in Turkmenistan have been widely criticized for being completely fraudulent and attempting to give an appearance of legitimacy to what is in reality a dictatorship. [1] The only legal party is the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, though that may change after constitutional reforms enacted on 26 September 2008. Both president and Assembly have a five-year term.[1]
Turkmenistan elects a legislature on a national level. The Assembly (Mejlis) has 65 members, elected for a five year term in single seat constituencies. Turkmenistan is a single-party state; the only political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, is the only party legally allowed to hold power. All candidates at the elections belonged to this party. All candidates at the elections of 7 April2003 (which had a turnout of 89.3%) belonged to the DPT. The Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council) which is considered the ultimate representative body, has more than 2,500 members; it was abolished in late 2008, with the Assembly expanded to 125 members.[2]
