The beginning of 2023 was marked by the most important event in the domestic political life of the Turkmen society. A joint meeting of the two houses of Turkmenistan’s parliament – the Khalk Maslakhaty and the Mejlis was held in Ashgabat under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The meeting discussed issues relating to improvement of work of the national legislative system.
Speaking at the meeting, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the system of government has been regularly upgraded in accordance with the objective realities since Turkmenistan gained independence.
“Two years ago, as part of modernization of the system of government, we transformed the national legislative body – the Parliament – into the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan, consisting of two houses – the Khalk Maslakhaty and the Mejlis. They now successfully perform their functions,” the Speaker of the upper house of parliament said. According to him, in the light of modern transformations, it is important to consistently improve the structure of the legislative body in tune with the real needs of the time. In this regard, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov put forward a proposal to establish a highest representative body of people’s power – the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan.
“In view of the establishment of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan and granting it broad powers, including consideration and approval of proposals on the adoption of the Constitution of Turkmenistan and constitutional laws, making changes and amendments to them, the Khalk Maslakhaty of the Milli Gengesh is abolished,” Berdimuhamedov said. He stressed the expediency of reorganizing the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan (parliament), which exercises the legislative power in the country, into a unicameral legislative body – the Mejlis of Turkmenistan.
“It will be right if the newly established Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan is composed of the Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, the President of Turkmenistan, the Speaker of the Mejlis, the Chairman of the Supreme Court, the Secretary of the State Security Council, members of the Mejlis and the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ombudsman, the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Adalat (Justice), Khyakims (heads of administrations) of velayats (provinces), etraps (districts) and cities, speakers of the Khalk Maslakhaty of provinces, districts and cities, Archins (heads of local authorities) of cities and towns that are the administrative centers of districts, heads of political parties, trade unions and other public associations,” Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.
According to him, the powers of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan may include issues relating to consideration and approval of proposals on the adoption of the Constitution of the country and constitutional laws, making changes and amendments to them, consideration and approval of major directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the state, programs of political, economic, social and cultural development of the country, listening to the annual addresses by the President of Turkmenistan, consideration of issues of peace and security.
Meetings of the Khalk Maslakhaty shall be convened as necessary, but at least once a year, by its Speaker or at the suggestion of one third of the total number of members of the Khalk Maslakhaty.
Other speakers supported the proposals of the Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan. In conclusion, the Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and the Speaker of the Mejlis of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan, Gulshat Mammedova, signed a resolution. The document requests the President of Turkmenistan to consider the proposal to abolish the Khalk Maslakhaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan and reorganize the legislative body into the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, consisting of one house.
Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also signed a resolution on the establishment of a constitutional commission for development and summing up of proposals in connection with the introduction of changes and amendments to the Constitution of Turkmenistan. In addition, in accordance with the established procedure, the constitutional commission was instructed to draft the constitutional law of Turkmenistan “On changes and amendments to the Constitution of Turkmenistan” and the constitutional law of Turkmenistan “On the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan” and submit them for consideration and adoption at the upcoming joint session of the two houses of parliament with participation of members of the public.
Within 10 days after the decisions were made, a joint meeting of the Milli Gengesh (Parliament) of Turkmenistan and representatives of the public was held in Ashgabat under the chairmanship of Speaker of the upper house of parliament – the Khalk Maslakhaty (People’s Council) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Speaking at this meeting, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the proposals to establish the country’s highest representative body – the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan – were unanimously supported at a recent joint meeting of the two houses of parliament, taking into account the experience of state building of the Turkmen people. In particular, it was emphasized that with the establishment of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan and granting it broad powers, it would be reasonable to abolish the upper house of parliament of the same name and reorganize the Milli Gengesh into a unicameral parliament, the Mejlis, exercising the legislative power in the country.
Then, the meeting discussed issues on the agenda of the joint meeting of Milli Gengesh and members of the public. The speakers supported the initiatives to reform the system of representative bodies of power in the country, establish the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan and amend the Constitution of the country. The speakers also spoke in favor of electing Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as head of the newly established Khalk Maslakhaty and legally securing his status as the national leader of the Turkmen people.
Then, a break was announced to give members of parliament time to discuss and adopt the draft constitutional laws of Turkmenistan “On changes and amendments to the Constitution of Turkmenistan”, “On the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan” and “On the national leader of the Turkmen people” drafted by the constitutional commission. The parliamentarians reviewed the draft constitutional laws, adopted them and sent them to President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov for consideration. They also supported the proposal to elect Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the post of Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan.
After the break, the joint meeting of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan and representatives of the public of the country continued. The floor was given to Gulshat Mammedova, Speaker of the Mejlis of the Milli Gengesh, who informed the meeting that President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov considered three draft constitutional laws sent to him, approved and signed them. Mammedova also said that in accordance with the first part of Article 3 of the constitutional law of Turkmenistan “On the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan”, the Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan is appointed by the President of Turkmenistan. In this regard, she reported that the head of state signed the decree “On the Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan”, appointing Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov head of the People’s Council. This announcement was met with thunderous applause from the meeting participants.
Then, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took the floor and thanked the meeting participants and the people of the country for recognizing him as the national leader of the Turkmen people and appointing him Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan.
The head of the People’s Council stressed that Turkmenistan, pursuing a policy of neutrality, would continue expanding bilateral and multilateral partnerships based on mutual benefit and equality with neighboring countries and other states of the world. “Our state policy is aimed at solving such problems as increasing the gross domestic product per capita, increasing labor productivity and, ultimately, increasing the income of the population, significantly improving the living conditions of people to the level of developed countries of the world,” the Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty said.
“I rely on the power of my people,” Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted in conclusion, expressing his conviction that every Turkmen citizens would make a worthy contribution to the achievements of the Motherland.
At the end of the joint meeting of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan and representatives of the public of the country, members of the government, the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, members of the Mejlis, heads of military, law enforcement agencies and heads of provinces congratulated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the establishment of the highest representative body of democracy, his election as Speaker of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan and his recognition as the national leader of the Turkmen people. In the evening of the same day, the significant political event in the life of Turkmen society was celebrated with a solemn concert of masters of arts.