The first session of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People’s Council) is scheduled to be held on 24 September, 2018.
At the Cabinet session held on 31 August, 2018 Chairperson of the Mejlis (Parliament) Gulshat Mammedova gave a progress report on preparations for the event, in the course of which several laws are expected to be adopted.
The state information agency TDH reported that President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov charged Mammedova with the task of “being guided by further development of the Turkmen society” when drafting the laws.
Bakhargul Abdyeva, Deputy Prime Minister overseeing culture and mass media, was authorized to provide the adequate coverage of the event, as well as to inform the residents about the decisions made.
The Khalk Maslakhaty was reinstated from the Elders’ Council at the latest session of the Council on 10 October 2017.
The body had been initially established under President Saparmurat Niyazov.However, in 2008, after Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s rise to power, the Khalk Maslakhaty (People’s Council) was renamed into the Elders’ Council and was deprived of all its legislative powers.
Both the Khalk Maslakhaty and the Elders’ Council were used by the government to adopt and legitimatize unpopular decisions. During the course of the session the initiatives of ambiguous bills and reforms come from people’s representative the rather than the government.
For instance, at the session of the Elders’ Council held in 2017 an official decision was made to abolish free quotas for gas, electricity and water.
One of the Council members said that the residents “have such a prosperous life in the epoch of power and happiness that the country’s residents can pay for public utilities!” The Council also adopted amendments to the Constitution of Turkmenistan which extend the Presidential term from 5 to 7 years and lift age restrictions during nominations of candidates to run for the President’s post.