Alwaght- After 27 years ruling by late president Islam Karimov, Uzbeks go to polls on Sunday to elect their next president.
For the first time in 27 years, the presidential elections in Uzbekistan seem to be a real competition between four candidates.
Acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev from Kerimov’s Liberal Democratic Party, Hotamjon Ketmonov from the People’s Democratic Party, Sarvar Otamuratov from the Milliy Tiklanich (National Revival) Democratic Party, and Nariman Umarov from the Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party are running for presidency.
Late Uzbek president Islam Karimov, died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 78. He ran the country for 27 years.
Under the Uzbek constitution, if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes cast, a second round between the two leading candidates will take place within one month.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will also be monitoring the election, and some 1,300 national and international journalists will cover it.
