In Turkmenistan, the portrait of Berdimuhamedov Sr. began to be displayed everywhere

A portrait of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is displayed in institutions and businesses across the country. This comes after Berdimuhamedov Sr., the father of Turkmenistan’s President Serdara Berdimuhamedov, was named chairman of the country’s main legislative body, the People’s Consultative Assembly, and “national leader of the Turkmen people”. About that Azatlyk reports.
The company management is required to carry out the necessary work urgently. In the city of Balkanabat, the administrative center of the Balkan region, the process of placing portraits of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is to be completed within a week.
These days, public institutions in Balkanabat, including schools, health care institutions, law enforcement agencies, local railway companies, including “Turkmendemiryollari” agency, Balkanabad Railway Station, as well that private businesses, including wedding salons and restaurants, are in a hurry to carry out the oral order and hang a portrait of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov next to the portrait of President Serdara Berdimuhamedov.
There are certain requirements for portraits: first, the portrait of Berdimuhamedov Sr. must be placed to the right of the portrait of Berdimuhamedov Jr.; second, both portraits should be the same size, one portrait should not be larger or smaller than the other.
Budget holders, who previously only had to spend on buying one portrait, now have to spend money on buying two portraits.
In an interview with the local correspondent of Radio Azatlyk in Turkmenbashi, employees of the educational institution and teachers of local schools said that it was a burden to pay for their portraits.
Local school officials, who previously suspended fundraising from students, say that in light of the new requirements, they intend to resume fundraising for student portraits.
In fact, Balkan schoolgirls will have to pay 10 to 15 manats each ($2.8 to $4.2 at the Central Bank of Turkmenistan exchange rate) for portraits of Berdimuhamedov’s father and son.
“It’s been a long time since college kids collected money for portraits. Now, since it’s hard for teachers to buy two portraits at once, they say they prefer to collect school kids for 10 to 15 manats,” one of the residents of Balkanabad said in an interview with Azatlyka’s correspondent.
According to the new constitutional law, if the Chairman of the People’s Council cannot perform his duties for any reason, his powers will be transferred to the President of Turkmenistan. If the President cannot perform his duties for any reason, the powers of the President are transferred to the President of the People’s Council.
Former President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed on January 11 to reinstate Halk Maslahat (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan, an independent higher representative body, again abolished the bicameral legislative system created two years ago and Halk Maslahat, which became the upper house of parliament. Following this proposal, within 10 days, the parliament of Turkmenistan was urgently transformed into a unicameral parliament and a constitutional law on the establishment of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan was adopted. At the same time, the constitutional law “On the declaration of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as the national leader of the Turkmen people” was adopted.
The new constitutional law grants Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov a permanent seat in the People’s Council. It guarantees Berdimuhamedov Sr. and his family members the right to immunity and provides state protection.
The newly established People’s Council of Turkmenistan included the heads of all systems of state power – legislative, executive and judiciary.
According to the new amendments, the composition of the People’s Council includes the Chairman of the People’s Council, the President of Turkmenistan, the Chairman of the Mejlis, the members of the government, the deputies of the Mejlis, the President of the Supreme Court, the Secretary of the Security Council of the State, the Prosecutor General of Turkmenistan, governors of provinces, districts and cities, etc.
The Chairman of the People’s Council is appointed by the President of Turkmenistan.
According to the new constitutional law, if the Chairman of the People’s Council cannot perform his duties for any reason, his powers will be transferred to the President of Turkmenistan. At the same time, according to the new legislation, if the President of Turkmenistan cannot perform his duties for any reason, the powers of the President will be transferred to the Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly.
Both positions are held by father and son Berdimuhamedov. Thus, the portraits of the two Berdimuhamedovs are placed in state institutions against the background of recent changes and additions to the Constitution of Turkmenistan.
Political observers who spoke to Radio Azatlyk said they consider the upcoming amendments to the Constitution of Turkmenistan a violation of the Basic Law and the legislation of the country as a whole. They also note that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov strengthens his power with these actions, but also diminishes the importance of his son, who was declared president in March.
Meanwhile, some local observers who spoke to Azatlyk say that in the period since Serdar Berdimuhamedov was announced as president, reports of a shortage of cash at ATMs and deficits have decreased compared to the period of the presidency of Berdimuhamedov Sr. Serious economic problems have persisted in Turkmenistan for many years.
“It looks like Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is succeeding his son,” noted an observer who spoke anonymously to Azatlyk.
In February 2022, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov suddenly announced his resignation, explaining that his decision was “to give away my dear youth”. In March, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, -president of Turkmenistan, celebrated his 40th birthday.