Uzbek leader holds early election to extend rule

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Uzbekistan&s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev holds an early election on Sunday to extend his rule for another seven years, just months after
changing the constitution to lift term limits that would have required him to step aside in 2026.Mirziyoyev, 65, has brought Uzbekistan out
of near-isolation since taking power in 2016 after the death of autocrat Islam Karimov, who had ruled since the Soviet era and kept the
country closed to much of the world, Reuters reported.Foreign trade has been opened, foreign exchange controls have been lifted, and the
political system has been liberalized somewhat
However there are still no strong opposition parties or politicians in the country, which has never held an election viewed as competitive
by international monitors.Mirziyoyev lifted a two-term limit to his presidency by holding a referendum in April on constitutional amendments
that reset his term count and extended future presidential terms to seven years from five.Like other states in Central Asia, Uzbekistan is
trying to minimize collateral damage from Western sanctions imposed against its traditional trading partner Russia over the war in
Ukraine.The Russian rouble&s weakness means Tashkent is expected to see reduced foreign exchange inflows from millions of Uzbeks who work in
Russia.Once an energy exporter, Uzbekistan now consumes more oil and gas than it produces, and has been buying Russian hydrocarbons,
benefitting as Moscow redirects exports away from the West.Politically, Tashkent has maintained neutrality, calling for peace in Ukraine and
pledging to abide by Western sanctions while maintaining normal ties with Moscow, Reuters reported.Officially running against Mirziyoyev are
three candidates representing the Ecological Party, People&s Democratic Party and the Social-Democratic party of Adolat (Justice).The post
Uzbek leader holds early election to extend rule first appeared on Ariana News.