Image by neweurasia's Schwartz (CC-usage).

The parliamentary elections in Tajikistan, with all its ups and downs, and despite some fears of larger troubles, seem to be quickly receding into the past.  Let’s face it: it seems like our nation still believes that elections will neither be free nor transparent and no deputies in Majlis (parliament) will be courageous or capable enough to bring about changes to structure and quality of governing bodies in society.

It is hard to blame them since everyone understands that no democracy can allow one person to stay in power almost 20 years and control both the legislative and judicial branches. For many it is like living in a shah state (kingdom) where the king and his family can do anything their heart desires. Obviously, democracy is the rule of people, not ruling and mulling the people.

The results of this “kingdom” is evident: the country is lagging behind in development, the people are poor and officials have turned into robbers and beggars of foreign donors. And what about our transcendent president?  The truth of human nature is that even the noblest and finest person in the world will become arrogant and selfish if allowed total power.  Total power corrupts any person.

The inevitability of corruption is why we need monitoring in any process, measure in any volume, and competition in any market.  Until we are able to provide free and fair competition in matters of policy, economy, culture or society we won’t achieve significant results.

Although, I am not personally in favor of any particular political party in Tajikistan, I wish to someday see a party emerge and commit to national revival and progress.  If I traveled to New York or Washington on February 28 for the sake of promoting competition and balance, my vote would have gone to Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) and its chairman Mr. Kabiri.  Like the girl who got away, I suppose my vote will now always been what could have been…