Uzbekistan’s upcoming parliamentary election is scheduled for October 27, as announced by the Central Election Commission last week.
Voters will participate in electing members for various councils, including the 150-member Legislative Chamber, regional councils, Tashkent city council, district councils, and Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan.
The previous parliamentary election was held in late December 2019. Following a series of reforms in February 2021, election day was moved from December to October.
The most recent reforms in December 2023 introduced a mixed electoral system, shifting from the previous majority voting system to a combination of majority and proportional representation.
Despite the existence of five officially registered parties in Uzbekistan, there is limited competition and debate among them.
The current parliament is dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party, with other parties holding varying numbers of seats. Alternative parties face challenges in obtaining official registration to participate in elections.
With the election approaching, the prospect of new political parties emerging remains uncertain. The lack of rivalry among existing loyal parties raises questions about the effectiveness of the electoral process.
It remains to be seen whether Uzbekistan’s political landscape will witness significant changes in the upcoming election, or if the status quo will prevail.