2016 Tajik constitutional referendum

none 22 May 2016 Tajikistan Are you in favor of amendments and amendments to the Constitution (Basic Law) of the Republic of Tajikistan? 3,834,862 134,877 89,683 4,430,116 A constitutional referendum was held in Tajikistan on 22 May 2016. A total of 41 constitutional amendments were proposed.The Central Asian Referendum Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 21 May 2016 The changes included: amending Article 65 to remove presidential term limits for Emomali Rahmon reducing the minimum age to run for president from 35 to 30 banning political parties based on religious platforms According to official figures, the changes were approved by 96.6% of voters. Voter turnout was claimed to be 92%. The conduct of the referendum was problematic. Analysis On a practical level, incumbent President Emomali Rahmon would be allowed to run for re-election indefinitely under the changes. Rahmon has been the President of Tajikistan for close to a quarter of a century, showing what critics say was an increased disregard for religious freedoms, civil society, and political pluralism in recent years.Tajikistan Approves Constitutional Changes Tightening Rahmon's Grip On Power Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 24 May 2016 The reduction in minimum age to run for president allows Rahmon's son to run, because he would be 33 at the end of his father's current term. The religious party restriction most notably impacts the main opposition Islamic Renaissance Party, which was outlawed in 2015.Tajiks to vote in 'president-for-life' referendum Reuters, 10 February 2016 Some analystsMay 2016 claim that the changes violate the terms of the peace deal that ended the Tajikistani Civil War.May 2016 Conduct According to Reporters Without Borders, the Tajik government had been "blocking", "intimidating" and "threatening" independent media in the buildup to the referendum. According to Sergey Sirotkin, who headed the Russian observing mission, "[t]he referendum was held in full compliance with the laws". Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and its subsidiary ODIHR were denied entry and permission to observe the referendum.OSCE/ODIHR may not send its observers to Tajikistan to monitor constitutional referendum https://web.archive.org/web/20160630051832/http://news.tj/en/news/osceodihr-may-not-send-its-observers-tajikistan-monitor-constitutional-referendum 2016-06-30 Asia Plus, 13 April 2016 Over 3,200 polling stations were placed in the country, with additional posts available in several major Russian cities for Tajik expatriates.http://www.dw.com/en/tajikistan-votes-in-referendum-on-unlimited-term-for-president/a-19275865 Tajikistan votes in referendum on unlimited term for president Deutsche Welle 22 May 2016 23 May 2016 Results Voters were presented with the question: "Do you approve amendments to the country’s constitution?"http://tass.ru/en/world/877467 Life-term presidency for Emomali Rakhmon approved at Tajikistan referendum TASS 23 May 2016 23 May 2016 Under the country’s law, the referendum result is valid if more than half of voters approved it. 3834862 134877 89683 4430116 Asia Plus References Category:Referendums in Tajikistan Tajikistan Constitutional Category:Constitutional referendums Tajik