DUSHANBE, December 17, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) is expected to fix the date for by-elections to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) and the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper house of parliament) today.

“Under the country’s legislation, the CCER should hold parliamentary by-elections within three months after resignation of parliamentarians,” CCER’s office head Abdumannon Dodoyev told Asia-Plus in an interview.

We will recall that Marhabo Jabborova and Amirbek Mahmadaliyev resigned from the Majlisi Namoyandagon, because Marhabo Jabborova was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Amirbek Mahmadaliyev was appointed Chairperson of the Yovon District.

Former governor of Sughd province, Qohir Rasoulzoda, who was recently appointed Prime Minister of Tajikistan, resigned from his post of first deputy chairman of the Majlisi Milli.

Former governor of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), Qodir Qosim, who was appointed to head the State Committee on Investments and State-owned Property (GosKomInvest), resigned from his post of deputy chairman of the Majlisi Milli.

Former chairman of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP) Khayrullo Asoyev, who was recently appointed Minister of Transport, also resigned from the Majlisi Milli.

Besides, six other members of the Majlisi Milli, including ex-president of the Academy of Sciences Mamadsho Ilolov, ex-mayor of Norak Homid Abdulloyev, ex-governor of Khatlon Province Ghaybullo Afzalov, ex-mayor of Tursunzoda Davlatsho Gulmahmadov, ex-chairperson of Rushan district Qobilamo Ghulomshoyeva and Shamsmuhammad Nazriyev, reportedly resigned of their own accord.

Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon are elected on the basis of universal, free, equal, and direct elections by means of secret ballot.

Three-fourths of the total number of members of the Majlisi Milli are elected at joint meetings of people’s deputies of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region and its towns and districts, regions and their towns and districts, Dushanbe city and its districts, towns and districts subordinate to the centre, on the basis of indirect elections by means of secret ballot.  The Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region, regions, Dushanbe City, towns and districts subordinate to the centre have an equal number of representatives in the Majlisi Milli.  One-fourths of the members of the Majlisi Milli are appointed by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.