Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev has served as President of Uzbekistan since 2016 when he took over following the death of longtime authoritarian leader Islam Karimov. Mirziyoyev recently won re-election to a second term on July 9, 2023, with over 80% of the vote as the incumbent president.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Shavkat Mirziyoyev was sworn in on Friday as Uzbekistan’s newly elected Uzbek President at a ceremony in parliament.
The standard and badge of the president of Uzbekistan were brought into the Senate hall before the oath-taking ceremony in the capital Tashkent.
Central Election Commission chairman Zainiddin Nizamkhodjayev handed Mirziyoyev a new document, confirming that he is the president of Uzbekistan.
The ceremony continued with Mirziyoyev placing his hand on the constitution and Quran, Islam’s holy book, and pledging to “strictly follow the constitution and laws of the republic, guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens, faithfully fulfill the duties assigned to the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan.”
On April 30, Uzbek citizens voted on constitutional amendments that increased the presidential term from five to seven years and allowed the incumbent president to run for reelection after two consecutive terms.
Following the vote, Mirziyoyev announced early polls, which the electoral body decided to hold on July 9.
The polls were held last Sunday, and Mirziyoyev won 87.05% of the votes.
Oath-Taking Ceremony
On July 26, 2023, Mirziyoyev’s oath-taking ceremony was held in the parliament building in the capital city of Tashkent. This ceremony is mandated by the constitution to formally mark the beginning of a president’s new term in office.
The ceremony began with the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Zainiddin Nizamkhodjayev, presenting Mirziyoyev with the standard and badge of the President of Uzbekistan, formal symbols of the presidency. Nizamkhodjayev then handed Mirziyoyev the presidential certificate confirming his victory in the recent election.
With his hand placed upon both the constitution and Quran, Mirziyoyev took the presidential oath pledging to:
- Solemnly serve the people of Uzbekistan faithfully
- Strictly observe the Constitution and laws of the republic
- Guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens
- Conscientiously fulfill the duties assigned to the President
The use of both the Constitution and the Quran signifies Mirziyoyev’s dual commitment to upholding the nation’s laws as well as Islamic principles and values.
Increased Presidential Term
As part of constitutional amendments passed in 2021, the presidential term was increased from five to seven years. This means Mirziyoyev could potentially remain in office until 2030 if he wins another term in the 2028 election. The extension of the presidential term faced some criticism that it concentrates too much power on the president.
However, supporters argued a longer term would provide more stability and give presidents extra time to implement their agenda. Before the amendments, critics said presidents often focused more on re-election than governing effectively in their fifth year in anticipation of the next vote.
Reforms and Changes Under Mirziyoyev
Since taking over in 2016 following Islam Karimov’s 27 years of rigid rule, Mirziyoyev has introduced various political and economic reforms:
- Improving relations with neighboring countries
- Liberalizing monetary policy
- Empowering regional governance
- Increasing internet access
Many Uzbek citizens and international observers have welcomed these changes after decades of authoritarianism under Karimov. Notably, Mirziyoyev has freed some political prisoners and allowed for more freedom of expression.
However, some human rights groups argue the reforms have not gone far enough. Issues like forced labor in the cotton industry persist. Mirziyoyev also still maintains strict control over the country without a viable opposition. His re-election in 2023 faced criticism for lack of real opposition candidates.
Mirziyoyev Managing Various Interests and Coalitions?
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, may face several challenges in managing various interests and coalitions. Here are some potential challenges:
- Political Opposition: Despite some reforms undertaken by Mirziyoyev, there may still be pockets of political opposition in Uzbekistan. Managing dissenting voices and accommodating opposition parties within the political landscape can be a delicate task, especially in a country that has traditionally had a more centralized power structure.
- Economic Interests: Uzbekistan has been undertaking economic reforms to attract foreign investment and diversify its economy. Managing the competing interests of various economic sectors, both domestic and foreign, can be challenging. Balancing the interests of different industries and stakeholders while ensuring sustainable economic growth requires careful navigation.
- Regional Dynamics: Uzbekistan is situated in a geopolitically sensitive region, with complex relationships with neighboring countries, such as Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. Managing regional dynamics, including territorial disputes, cross-border trade, and security concerns, can pose challenges for Mirziyoyev as he seeks to maintain stability and cooperation.
Future Prospects Under Mirziyoyev’s Continued Leadership
With Mirziyoyev embarking on a new seven-year presidential term, he has an opportunity to continue and expand upon his policy agenda. Areas he may focus on include:
- Further reforms to build democratic institutions
- Diversifying the economy beyond commodities like gold and cotton
- Improving healthcare and education access
- Tackling corruption across institutions
| Year | Key Event |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Took over the presidency after Islam Karimov’s death |
| 2021 | Constitutional amendments passed extending the presidential term to 7 years |
| 2023 | Won re-election for second presidential term |
| 2028 | Next election if runs for and wins a third term |
However, critics will continue monitoring his commitment to upholding rights and freedoms if dissent grows in response to economic struggles or resistance to reforms from elites benefitting from the status quo. Overall though, many citizens still generally support Mirziyoyev’s agenda so far.
His ability to manage various interests and coalitions while delivering tangible improvements for average Uzbeks will ultimately determine the success of his next seven years guiding the nation. But his re-election shows many still favor the initial reforms under his leadership after the previous period of isolation and stagnation under Karimov.
Conclusion
Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been serving as the President of Uzbekistan since 2016, taking over after the death of Islam Karimov. He recently won re-election to a second term in July 2023 with a significant majority of the votes. The oath-taking ceremony marked the beginning of his new term, where he pledged to faithfully serve the people of Uzbekistan, uphold the constitution and laws, guarantee citizens’ rights and freedoms, and fulfill his presidential duties.
During his presidency, Mirziyoyev has implemented various political and economic reforms, such as improving relations with neighboring countries, liberalizing monetary policy, empowering regional governance, and increasing internet access. These changes have been generally welcomed by Uzbek citizens and international observers, as they represent a departure from the authoritarianism of the past and have allowed for some improvements in human rights and freedom of expression.
