The parliament will be the supreme representative body with legislative powers in Turkmenistan, as a new draft constitution posted on Tuesday has no article about the Khalk Maslakhaty (People’s Council).

The Khalk Maslakhaty was the supreme representative body with legislative powers in the office of late president Saparmurat Nyazov. An article about the Khalk Maslakhaty began the chapter on power and management bodies in the old Turkmen constitution. The constitution was adopted in 2006, the last year of Niyazov’s 16-year rule. International democratic institutions defined that period as “authoritarianism and self-isolation.”

Incumbent Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow voiced the need for a constitutional reform in the first year of his office. A state constitutional commission was formed to draft a new constitution. The president told the commission on Monday that the Khalk Maslakhaty should be abolished, and the president and the parliament should take up its powers.

The new constitution implies the enlargement of the Turkmen parliament from 65 to 125 deputies. The parliament will enjoy the right to constitutional amendments, declaration of presidential elections, changes in the state border, provision of peace and security, and impeachment of the president in case of an ailment or a motion of no confidence.

The new constitution says a deputy premier should be appointed as a temporary president by decision of the State Security Council. The previous constitution entrusted the parliament speaker with the temporary fulfillment of presidential duties.

In addition, the new constitution provides for secret elections of the parliament.

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