Do you know who will win the election? I do — the candidate on the far left.
Uzbekistan’s Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP) has nominated incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as its candidate for the presidential election. Earlier this year, a constitutional referendum reset presidential term limits, allowing Mirziyoyev to seek two additional terms in office. No opposition figures or other candidates widely known to the public have entered the race.
On May 12, the party’s Political Council approved Mirziyoyev’s candidacy ahead of the party congress that will formally nominate a candidate for the early presidential election scheduled for July 9, according to the party’s press service.
Party officials said that Uzbekistan had achieved progress in a number of areas under Mirziyoyev’s leadership. The president was previously nominated by UzLiDeP in both 2016 and 2021.
“The future of the country, as well as the demands of a rapidly changing world, place on UzLiDeP the responsibility of nominating a candidate capable of ensuring the consistent continuation of ongoing reforms and carrying forward the complex task of transforming society at a new level,” the party said in a statement.
On May 13, another political party, Milliy Tiklanish, announced that it would support Mirziyoyev’s candidacy rather than nominate its own contender.
At a party plenum, Milliy Tiklanish decided not to field a presidential candidate and instead endorsed the UzLiDeP nominee. According to the state news agency UzA, participants concluded that Mirziyoyev had “proven his devotion and patriotism to the people and homeland.”
The three other candidates announced so far all come from state institutions and are largely unknown to the broader public, making it difficult for them to compete with the incumbent president.
The Ecological Party of Uzbekistan plans to nominate its chairman, Abdushukur Xamzayev, as its candidate. Xamzayev previously served as deputy chairman of the State Forestry Committee and director of the Forestry Research Institute.
The People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan is nominating its leader, Ulugbek Inoyatov, for the presidency. Since 2019, he has headed the party. Earlier, he served as rector of Namangan State University and, from 2013 to 2018, as Uzbekistan’s minister of public education.
The Social Democratic Party Adolat (Justice) is nominating Robaxon Maxmudova, First Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Court. Born in 1958 in Fergana, Maxmudova previously chaired the Fergana Regional Criminal Court and headed the President’s People’s Reception Office in Fergana Region. She also led the Senate Committee on Science, Education and Healthcare. Since July 2020, she has served as First Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Court and Chairperson of the Judicial Collegium for Administrative Cases.
The early presidential election is scheduled for July 9. Political parties must officially nominate their candidates between May 17 and June 1. The Central Election Commission is expected to complete candidate registration by June 6. Under Uzbek law, only registered political parties may nominate presidential candidates. Five political parties are currently registered in the country.
Mirziyoyev announced the early election on May 8 during a meeting with the leadership of both chambers of the Oliy Majlis, political parties, and judicial and executive authorities following the constitutional referendum held on April 30. He said he was giving up the remaining three and a half years of his current term.
Before the constitutional amendments, Mirziyoyev’s current term would have been his final one under the previous constitutional framework. Following the referendum, however, he is eligible to seek two additional seven-year terms, potentially allowing him to remain in office until around 2038.