Turkmen president’s son likely to succeed father in election

Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Berdymukhamedov, son of President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, takes half in celebrations for the nationwide Turkmen Horse Day and the Turkmen Shepherd Canine Day, close to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan April 25, 2021. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Sarkisyan

ASHGABAT, March 12 (Reuters) – Turkmen President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov’s son, Serdar, is poised to win Saturday’s snap presidential election and succeed his father because the ruler of a gas-rich Central Asian nation of six million.

President Berdymukhamedov, in energy since 2007, known as the vote final month, saying he wished to present approach to a brand new era of leaders and the ruling Democratic get together rapidly nominated his son.

Serdar Berdymukhamedov, 40, who has already been elevated to the No.2 place within the nation as a deputy prime minister, is operating in opposition to eight different candidates, a few of whom are nearly unknown low-level public servants.

An engineer and a diplomat by schooling, he has swiftly risen by way of authorities ranks, and native media seek advice from him as “the son of the nation,” whereas his 64-year-old father is named Arkadag, or Protector.

The outgoing president has mentioned he would stay the speaker of the higher home of parliament after handing over the presidency.

Over 86% of voters had solid their ballots by 15 p.m. native time (1000 GMT), the Central Election Fee mentioned.

“There’s hope that the nation will turn out to be extra trendy, will look ahead somewhat than again,” Oraz, a 30-year-old logistics firm worker, mentioned after voting.

Outcomes of the vote are because of be introduced on Sunday.

Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic bordering Iran and Afghanistan, sits on the world’s fourth-largest pure fuel reserves and exports fuel by pipelines to China and Russia.

Reporting by Marat Gurt
Writing by Olzhas Auyezov Enhancing by Barbara Lewis and Mark Potter

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