Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has won a third term, extending his control over the tightly-controlled, gas-rich Central Asian state until 2030, according to the preliminary results announced on Monday.
The 65-year-old leader, who has been at the helm since 2016, has pledged to open up Uzbekistan to foreign investment and tourism while implementing significant domestic reforms in the most populous country of Central Asia.
Overwhelming Victory
Running against three relatively unknown candidates, Mirziyoyev secured an impressive 87% of the vote in Sunday’s election, as reported by Uzbekistan’s Central Election Commission. This decisive victory comes after his initial term in 2016 and subsequent re-election in 2021. A constitutional referendum held earlier this year cleared the path for Mirziyoyev to serve two additional presidential terms, extending the mandate from five to seven years and potentially enabling him to remain in power until 2037.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) characterized the election campaign as “low-key,” reflecting the absence of significant opposition to the incumbent president. It said the campaign has been focused on the economy, health care, education, water and the environment.
Reforms and Economic Development
Presenting himself as a reformer, Mirziyoyev envisions a “New Uzbekistan” and has outlined his plans to double the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to $160 billion (€146 billion) in the near future. With a background in engineering, he has prioritized economic growth and education in his re-election campaign.
During his tenure, he has already taken steps to eradicate forced labor in Uzbekistan’s cotton fields and released political prisoners who were detained under the previous authoritarian regime of Islam Karimov. Although improvements have been made in human rights, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) emphasize the need for further progress, as the authorities have yet to permit the emergence of a genuine opposition.
Transforming Uzbekistan
With his extended term, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will continue to shape the trajectory of Uzbekistan. As he strives to attract foreign investments and bolster tourism, the reforms and economic growth he envisions have the potential to redefine the country’s future. However, the need for further improvements in human rights and the emergence of genuine opposition remains crucial for the nation’s long-term progress.
World leaders congratulate Uzbek President
Leaders of different countries have congratulated Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on securing victory in the elections.
China — Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Uzbek President and said in his message that in recent years, China-Uzbekistan relations have achieved leapfrog development under their joint guidance, with cooperation in various fields comprehensively strengthened.
Qatar — The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also sent a congratulatory message to President Mirziyoyev on his re-election for a third presidential term and wished him success in performing his duties and the relations between the two countries’ continued development and growth.
Turkiye — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warmly congratulated the Uzbek head of state on his victory in the presidential elections, which he said indicated the widespread public support for the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan.
Azerbaijan — In a phone conversation, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev described President Mirziyoyev’s victory as “people’s support for the policy implemented in Uzbekistan under the leadership of Shavkat Mirziyoyev and expressed his confidence that Uzbekistan will continue moving along the path of comprehensive development.” He commended the development of bilateral ties between Baku and Tashkent.
Kazakhstan — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the election results as evidence of popular support for Mirziyoyev’s policies. “During the conversation, the President of Kazakhstan confirmed his commitment to further deepening Kazakh-Uzbek relations in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance,” the Kazakh presidency said.
Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated his Uzbek counterpart on his reelection victory. During a phone conversation, he said: “The convincing victory in the elections confirms your high political authority, testifies to the broad popular support for your course of large-scale reforms aimed at further dynamic development of the country, strengthening its international positions, and protecting the rights and interests of citizens.”
Iran — In his congratulatory note, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed hope that bilateral relations would develop “in line with the mutual interests of the two nations and the expansion of regional and international peace and security.”