State flag of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat. File photoASHGABAT, Feb. 14 The presidential election campaign and its first stage, the nomination of candidates, started in Turkmenistan on Monday, RIA Novosti correspondent reports. In accordance with the electoral code of Turkmenistan, the right to nominate candidates belongs to political parties , registered before the day of the election, as well as groups of citizens. Political parties nominate candidates for president at their congresses. There are three political parties in Turkmenistan — the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan and the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan. When nominating a candidate for the presidency of Turkmenistan by groups of citizens, he must be supported by at least 10 thousand signatures of voters. A citizen of the country born in Turkmenistan, not younger than forty years old, fluent in the state language, permanently residing and working in the country for the previous fifteen years. The President of Turkmenistan is elected directly by the people of the country for a period of seven years and takes office from the moment he takes the oath. The last time the presidential elections in Turkmenistan were held in 2017. At that time, 8 candidates competed for the highest state post in the country.
