Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party

Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party
O‘zbekiston Liberal-demokratik partiyasi
AbbreviationUzLiDeP (English)
OʻzLiDeP (Uzbek)
Official leaderAktam Haitov
PresidentShavkat Mirziyoyev
Founded15 November 2003 (2003-11-15)
Split fromPeople's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan
HeadquartersNukus street 73A, Tashkent.
NewspaperXXI asr
Youth wingUzLiDeP Youth Wing
IdeologyEconomic liberalism[1]
Civic nationalism[1]
Authoritarianism[2]
Political positionCentre-right[3]
National affiliationDemocratic Forces Bloc [ru] (2005–2019)
Colours    Blue
Legislative Chamber
53 / 150
Senate
41 / 100
Website
uzlidep.uz
Logo until mid-2021
Logo during the summer of 2021

The Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP; Uzbek: O‘zbekiston Liberal-demokratik partiyasi, OʻzLiDeP, Ўзбекистон Либерал-демократик партияси, ЎзЛиДеП), officially the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party (Uzbek: Tadbirkorlar va ishbilarmonlar harakati-O‘zbekiston Liberal-demokratik partiyasi), is a political party in Uzbekistan and the country's ruling party. The four other parties in the Oliy Majlis, Uzbekistan's parliament, are pro-government.[4]

History

The party was founded in 2003 by Islam Karimov as a split from People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, which was led by Karimov from 1991 to until 1996, at which point Karimov stepped down and resigned his membership.[5]

Despite self-identifying with different ideologies, the parties are seen as no different from each other, with the Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party being created to give an illusion of a competitive multi-party system; this is supported by the fact that the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan remained supportive of Karimov's policies and retained his favor.[6]

Ideology

As a self-described centre-right[7] party of the middle class and private property owners, as well as businesspeople, farmers, and the service sector, it seeks to promote economic liberalism and economic liberalization, having liberalized the foreign currency market. The party is nominally liberal and supportive of liberal democratic values;[8] however, its liberal practice on economic issues has not been reflected in practice at the political level, as it has ruled an authoritarian state, despite reforms following the death of long-time leader Islam Karimov in 2016.[4]

Electoral history

During the 2004–05 Uzbek parliamentary election, the party won 41 out of 120 seats. In the 2009–10 Uzbek parliamentary election, it won 55 out of 150. It has allied with the Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party, a conservative and right-wing party.[4]

In October, the party said that it intended to nominate President Islam Karimov as its candidate in the 2007 Uzbek presidential election, although many considered Karimov to be legally ineligible to run for another term.[9] On 6 November, Karimov was unanimously chosen as the party's presidential candidate at a party convention in Tashkent, and Karimov accepted the nomination.[10] Karimov remained the president until his death in 2016. After the death of Karimov, long-time prime minister and party member Shavkat Mirziyoyev won the 2016 Uzbek presidential election to finish out Karimov's term.[4] Mirziyoyev was re-elected in the 2021 Uzbek presidential election.[11]

Presidential elections

Election Party candidate Votes % Votes % Result
First round Second round
2007 Islam Karimov 13,008,357 90.8% — — Elected Green tickY
2015 17,122,597 90.4% — — Elected Green tickY
2016 Shavkat Mirziyoyev 15,906,724 88.6% — — Elected Green tickY
2021 12,988,964 80.3% — — Elected Green tickY
2023[a] 13,625,055 87.7% — — Elected Green tickY
  1. ^ Shavkat Mirziyoyev formally ran as an independent candidate, but was supported by the party.

Legislative Chamber elections

Election Leader Seats +/– Position
2004–05
41 / 120
 New 1st
2009–10 Muhammadusuf Teshabaev
53 / 135
 Increase 12 Steady 1st
2014–15 Sodiqjon Turdiev
52 / 150
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st
2019–20 Aktam Haitov
53 / 150
 Increase 1 Steady 1st
2024
64 / 150
 Increase 11 Steady 1st

References

  1. ^ a b McCullough, Aoife (July 2015). "The legitimacy of states and armed non-state actors". Archived from the original on 2016-06-09.
  2. ^ "The political framework of Uzbekistan - International Trade Portal". www.lloydsbanktrade.com. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  3. ^ Reflection, Political (2020-01-19). "Parliamentary Elections and Transformation in Uzbekistan – Political Reflection". Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  4. ^ a b c d Abdurasulov 2019.
  5. ^ Lansford 2015, pp. 1601.
  6. ^ Lansford 2015, p. 1604.
  7. ^ Hollekim, Ragnhild. Uzbekiztan : presidential election December 2007 : report. Vol. 2/2008 of Nordem Report (Online). Oslo: University of Oslo, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, 2008. Archived 16 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ United Nations 2016.
  9. ^ Saidazimova 2007.
  10. ^ Sharifov 2007.
  11. ^ Eurasianet 2021.

Sources


Uzbekistan

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