Turkmenistan: a “dynastic” republic. They are about to go on stage – citizens at the polls tomorrow, Saturday 12 March – the most discounted presidential elections in the world. The Turkmenistanuntil 1991 part of the Soviet Union, closes the era of Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (more than a name, a tax code), but it does not close the Berdymukhamedov era. The outcome of the vote, in fact, is already written: the son will rise to power of the current president-autocrat, Serdar, in a dynastic succession that confirms the total lack of democracy in the Central Asian country, rich in gas and other natural resources.
One candidate and eight “puppets”
There are nine candidates formally in the running for the vote. But, in fact, nobody knows. No space was given to the challengers by Berdymukhamedov the Younger in the election campaign. Even the parties that have presented candidates – such as the agrarian one and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs – have been careful not to campaign for their standard-bearers. The doubt, if anything, is to how many tenths from 100 percent it will stop the next president. Which could be nothing more than an avatar of his father, who has been leading the country for more than 15 years.
Like father Like Son
Nothing is known about Serdar Berdymukhamedov: he is a forty-year-old known under the protective wing of his father. On the other hand, also of Gurbanguly little or nothing was known when he became interim president in 2006, following the death of the founder of independent Turkmenistan, former Soviet republic, “Turkmenbashi” Saparmuray Niyazov. Except that he was the absolute leader’s dentist. And, at least of his mouth, he knew all the secrets. Of Serfar, on the other hand, we know that he has been a deputy since 2016, deputy foreign minister and deputy governor of the province of Ahal since 2018. From 2020 Minister of Industry and number two of his father.
In fact, a change of gear is not to be expected, an opening to free information and democracy with the coming to power of Berdymukhamedov the son. Or in any case, nothing in what Serdar has said so far suggests that there will be an opening for a country that, usually, in the rankings international on freedom of information competes fiercely with North Korea for the last position.
Relations with China
Unlike Pyongyang, however, iTurkmenistan is not disconnected from economic flows. An important agreement for the supply of large quantities of gas to China it guarantees the autarchy of Ashgabat important revenues, which allow it to maintain a secluded stability in the Central Asian country, in which foreign information sites are blocked and independent media banned. Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has ruled for the past 15 years on
Turkmenistan with the iron fist and with a paternalistic attitude, supported by a stringent one cult of personality, evident in the images broadcast by the national television channel, which portrays the president in practically all sauces. From official visits to musical performances, passing through portraits far beyond hagiography.
Trust is good …
Last month, the leader announced that he would step down to allow the government to change generationally, but he also warned that he will remain in the political arena as president of the senate. According to what some analysts said, however, before leaving his hand he had the constitution changed to grant himself more powers as a former president, in case something did not go in the right direction during the succession. A sign that the president-dentist probably doesn’t even trust his offspring.