Son of Turkmenistan’s leader to run in an early election

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — The son of Turkmenistan’s authoritarian chief will run in an early presidential election subsequent month, a transfer that lays the inspiration for a political dynasty within the gas-rich Central Asian republic.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, 64, introduced the vote on Saturday, saying he is able to relinquish energy to a brand new era in a press release that appeared to recommend that his 40-year-old son Serdar would succeed him.

Turkmenistan’s state TV reported Monday that the nation’s Democratic Celebration had nominated Serdar as a candidate within the race. He has risen by a collection of more and more outstanding authorities posts and is now the deputy chairman of the Cupboard.

The vote is scheduled for March 12.

No election in post-Soviet Turkmenistan has been thought of genuinely aggressive. Whereas eight candidates ran in opposition to Berdymukhamedov within the final election in 2017, all expressed help for his authorities and Berdymukhamedov tallied greater than 97% of the vote.

Berdymukhamedov got here to energy in 2006 after the loss of life of the eccentric Saparmurat Niyazov and he established a pervasive character cult much like his predecessor’s. Beneath his rule, the nation has remained tough for outsiders to enter. Turkmenistan has not reported any circumstances of an infection within the coronavirus pandemic.

It additionally has struggled to diversify its financial system, which is overwhelmingly depending on its huge pure gasoline reserves.

Berdymukhamedov cultivates a picture of sturdy and aggressive well being with media stunts that included his firing a pistol at a man-sized goal whereas using a bicycle and hoisting a gold weightlifting bar, to the applause of his Cupboard.