This post is part of the crossblog survey “2007 in retrospect”. You can also vote on the most important event of 2007 in our online poll.

In 2007, the English blog of Uzbekistan in Neweurasia has covered a wide range of topics on the events that significantly affected the life in Uzbekistan. The topics include such hot topics as prolongation of sanctions imposed on Uzbekistan by EU after the Andijan uprisings in May 2005, murder of a young prominent Uzbek journalist Alisher Saipov, tightening of control on Uzbek media. All of these topics are worthy to be written about in the Retrospect cross-blog survey. However, there is another topic that deserves more attention than others – pre-election process in Uzbekistan.

As it is written in the Constitution of Uzbekistan (last amended in 2002), the president of Uzbekistan can serve only two terms and is no longer a president after his/her second term ends. However, the first president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, who actually came to power in 1989 first as a head of Communist Party in Uzbek SSR, did not leave his position after his second term ended early in 2007. According to the Constitution of the country, the presidential elections are held on the first Sunday of the third decade of December of the year when the presidential term ends. However, the Constitution does not say anything about the person who must substitute the president and rule the country until presidential elections. Normally, after the term of the president ends, the second highest person in the government takes his/her position and becomes acting president until the elections. Nonetheless, Islam Karimov stayed in his position.

Usually, in a democratic country, and Uzbekistan claims to be one in its Constitution, a year of the presidential elections is a year full of political activity. Different candidates compete with each other and struggle for votes traveling in the country and meeting with electorate. However, the situation in Uzbekistan resembled a dead calm. However, a great part of summer Islam Karimov spent traveling around Uzbekistan, especially to densely populated regions Namangan and Andijan, and meeting with citizen in remote areas. Though local media referred to them as “official visits�, it really resembled a candidate’s tour around the country to meet with electorate. As Jamiyat wrote in Neweurasia:

The Uzbek President started all his rallies by meeting with representatives of local populations and farmers, and spoke about the need of raising living standards and prosperity levels in rural areas, bringing infrastructure to the villages, and striving to help local youths. Considering the fact that more than 60% of the Uzbek population lives in rural areas, appeasing this demographic is of utmost importance for any politician seriously considering the presidency. Islam Karimov is one who realizes this fact… National broadcasting channels in their turn also made sure to show images of the Uzbek president giving practical advice on new construction sites, and meeting young students from academic lyceums as well as farmers and religious leaders (at Nakshbandi complex)… All of these developments directly indicate the sign of a starting pre-election campaign by the current president. In the next months to come we can only expect more propaganda on TV, and perhaps even some populist measures which could range from economic to social reforms and privileges.

It was only in September, when the Central Election Committee held a press conference and officially informed citizen about the coming presidential elections and that political parties were to nominate their candidates. Even by that time no one still knew about Islam Karimov’s plan, whether or not he was going to give his position to his successor. Bloggers in Neweurasia were discussing the question about successor as well. Libertad wrote in Neweurasia:

Gulnara Karimova has become an important person in the ruling circle of Uzbekistan in a very short time. She controls very large portion of business in Uzbekistan, especially in Tashkent, where she has many restaurants and night clubs. Her authority and influence, plus father’s patronage could play an essential role in inheriting the presidency. Whereas, Rustam Inoyatov is also a leading figure in the political life of Uzbekistan. Some people say that he is the next person after Karimov, who has almost limitless power in the country. Observers say that Inoyatov’s influence is getting more and more wide from day to day, which may be a signal to future changes.

Soon later, the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP) informed the Central Election Committee and citizen about the party’s will to nominate Islam Karimov as a candidate for presidency. To a surprise of international observers and political analysts, the Central Election Committee found this decision of the party to be legitimate and approved Karimov’s candidacy. It was just several weeks later when the party justified its decision stating that according to the new Constitution that was adopted in 2002 in national referendum, Islam Karimov could be a president of Uzbekistan for two more terms.

Initially, there were six candidates for presidency – five candidates from different political parties and one candidate slated by the initiative group of voters. However, two candidates out of six later were out of the competition, as they could not manage to collect 5% of voters signatures for the support of their candidacy. Therefore, at the moment just four candidates left. They are Dilorom Tashmuhamedova – “Adolat� (Justice) Social-Democratic Party, Asliddin Rustamov – Peoples Democratic Party, current president Islam Karimov- Liberal Democratic Party, and Akmal Saidov – slated by the initiative group of voter.

On coming Sunday, December 20, 2007, Uzbekistan will held presidential elections, in which Islam Karimov, a current president, who has been head of the country for 19 years, will again compete with other three candidates, all of whom, by the way, openly stated their support to Islam Karimov. Analysts already foresee success of Islam Karimov. This presidential election surely is the turning point in the history of Uzbekistan. However, it is too early to predict the course, where this turn will take the country to.