For the first time in the Turkmenistan's history, there will be a lawmaker in parliament who is not a member of the ruling party.
That is according to results tallied on June 10 in special elections for five vacant parliamentary seats.
Ovezmammed Mammedov, chairman of the recently created Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, won a seat from the eastern Lebap Province.
After Turkmenistan achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country had only one registered political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, formerly the Communist Party.
That party has always been headed by Turkmenistan's president.
The Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs was registered in August 2012 after President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov said in a speech that a second party should be formed.
Many see the move as lip service to criticism over the country's one-party system.
That is according to results tallied on June 10 in special elections for five vacant parliamentary seats.
Ovezmammed Mammedov, chairman of the recently created Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, won a seat from the eastern Lebap Province.
After Turkmenistan achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country had only one registered political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, formerly the Communist Party.
That party has always been headed by Turkmenistan's president.
The Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs was registered in August 2012 after President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov said in a speech that a second party should be formed.
Many see the move as lip service to criticism over the country's one-party system.
