President-elect Shavkat Mirziyaev thanks Uzbek people for support

By Azernews

By Gunay Hasanova

Uzbekistan’s acting President Shavkat Mirziyaev won a tremendous victory in the country’s first presidential elections with nearly 88 percent voter turnout since the death of former leader Islam Karimov.  

The vote was called to determine a new leader following the death in early September of Islam Karimov, who headed the country for the past 25 years.

Being elected as the President of Uzbekistan for the next five years, Mirziyaev thanked the Uzbek people for trusting in him.

"I thank the people of Uzbekistan for their support," he said at a rally of the Uzbek Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP) supporters, which was held after the announcement of the preliminary voting results.

Addressing the rally, Mirziyaev said that over the past 25 years, under the leadership of the first Uzbek President Islam Karimov significant changes had been made in all spheres of the country’s life - the principles of market economy were introduced, the foundations of sovereignty were fortified, as well as a democratic legal state and strong civil society were formed.

"Further consistent continuation of this extensive work is the main purpose of our people. Since the main idea of our independence is to secure bright future for our Motherland and welfare of its people,” said the newly elected president.

Mirziyaev, who had been the country’s prime minister since 2003, conductor of the policy of the first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, who has vast experience in management of multifaceted economy of the country, was widely expected to win a five-year term in the election after he moved quickly to consolidate his power in the wake of Karimov’s death.

The 59-year-old Mirziyaev was made acting president six days after Karimov’s death was announced, circumventing a constitutional process under which the upper parliament house speaker is supposed to take charge.

Mirziyaev, who represented the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan in the elections, has repeatedly stressed that he was going to follow the policy of his predecessor Islam Karimov.

In a speech on his first day as acting president, he said Uzbekistan would continue the policy of not joining any international military alliances and not hosting any foreign military bases, along with not stationing its troops abroad.

Previously, Mirziyaev also said that he would focus on improving the country’s economy further, as well as, foreign-exchange controls that have benefited various power groups within the government.

During his term as acting president, Mirziyaev has already taken certain steps to improve relations with other central Asian countries.

He has also taken steps to liberalize the currency market, and a presidential order open to revisions until December 14 is aimed at cutting some regulations that have hindered economic growth.

Experts consider that Uzbekistan’s foreign policy may face a considerable shift since Shavkat Mirziyaev enjoys a better relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin than the former president.

In addition, Mirziyaev was quick to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Karimov's death and last month hosted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, with whom Karimov enjoyed patchy relations.

In turn, President Putin sent a congratulatory note less than 20 minutes following the announcement of Mirziyaev’s win.

Uzbekistan, a major grower of cotton and a producer of natural gas, borders Afghanistan and lies in a strategic region where Russia, China, and the west vie for influence. It is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes Russia and China.

The Government of Uzbekistan reported GDP growth at 7.8 percent in the first half of 2016, down from the 8.1 percent recorded in the same period of 2015, reflecting a weaker external environment and slower growth in the industry.