The rights of the parliamentary opposition in Uzbekistan should be expanded, president Shavkat Mirziyoyev said during his address at the first session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on 18 November, his president’s press secretary Sherzod Asadov said.
“In the new era, parliament must become a true people’s house, with its lower chamber serving as a generator of ideas, a platform for healthy competition, discussions and debates,” the president stated.
He noted that during the October elections, the programs and ideas of political parties “differed significantly, vividly demonstrating the struggle of different political ideologies”. Both the public and international observers highlighted the many debates organized throughout the election process, Sherzod Asadov quoted the president.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to energize the opposition in the parliament.
He proposed expanding the number of the guaranteed rights of the parliamentary opposition from 3 to 6, assigning one committee chair and two deputy committee chairs to the opposition, as well as granting additional rights, including the ability to initiate at least one issue per quarter during the “Government hour” and parliamentary inquiries.
The president expressed confidence that if the healthy competition and clash of opposing opinions seen in the elections were carried over to the parliament, this would lead to the development of laws that reflect the interests of the people.
He reiterated that parliamentary oversight is primarily a political control, and its outcomes are tied to political responsibility. Shavkat Mirziyoyev reminded that the Legislative Chamber had the right to hear reports from government members and, based on these reports, could recommend the dismissal of relevant Cabinet members to the president.
In his inaugural speech following the elections in July 2023, Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that Uzbekistan would guarantee the activities of a “constructive opposition”.