DUSHANBE, December 14, 2009, Asia-Plus -- The Social-Democratic Party (SDPT) has decided to convene its pre-election congress on December 20, Asia-Plus has learned from the SDPT deputy leader Shokirjon Hakimov.

According to him, some 80 delegates from the party’s organizations in the provinces and 20 guests will attend the congress.

“The congress will determine the list of candidates that will run in the parliamentary elections and the party strategy in the upcoming elections,” Hakimov said.

He added that the SDPT would nominate not only its members, the party would also nominate skilled lawyers, economists and public figures irrespective of the party they belong to.

Hakimov says the SDPT now numbers some 10,000 members.  “However, we are sure that the number of people supporting our party is much higher,” the SDPT deputy leader noted.

Founded in 2002, the Social-Democratic Party was registered in December the same year.

The party was originally registered as the Party of Justice and Development in 1999.  The Ministry of Justice requested the same year that the Supreme Court ban the party''s activities and its registration was canceled.  The party re-emerged and was registered under its current name in late 2002.  The chairman of the party is Rahmatillo Zoirov.