TASHKENT: Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is poised to win the snap presidential election in the country, following a constitutional referendum that extended his term and allowed him to run for two more terms. The 65-year-old incumbent president is expected to secure a landslide victory against three nominal rivals.
The political landscape in Uzbekistan has remained relatively unchanged, with no significant opposition parties openly opposing President Mirziyoyev’s policies and agenda, according to the pre-voting report by the elections observer arm of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Political and Economic Reforms in Uzbekistan
Since assuming power in 2016 after the death of longtime dictator Islam Karimov, Mirziyoyev has implemented a series of political and economic reforms, easing some of the repressive measures of his predecessor. Freedom of speech has been expanded, independent media outlets and bloggers have emerged, and controls on Islam have been relaxed in the predominantly Muslim country. These reforms have brought about several positive changes in Uzbekistan.
Mirziyoyev’s reforms have also included the abolition of state regulation of cotton production, putting an end to forced labor in the cotton industry. Uzbekistan has traditionally been a major exporter of cotton, and under Karimov, more than 2 million Uzbeks were compelled to work in the annual cotton harvest.
Additionally, Mirziyoyev has implemented measures to attract foreign investment by lifting controls on hard currency and improving relations with Western countries. He has maintained strong ties with Russia while signing significant agreements with China, making it Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner through the Belt and Road Initiative.
In a delicate balancing act, Mirziyoyev has remained neutral on the issue of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, avoiding direct support while refraining from condemning Moscow’s actions.
Mirziyoyev’s victory in the presidential election affirms his leadership and the continuation of his reform agenda, which has seen Uzbekistan undergo significant changes since his ascent to power.
