DUSHANBE, July 31, 2013, Asia-Plus – The date of the presidential election will be announced soon, Abdumannon Dodoyev, an official with The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER), told Asia-Plus today.

In accordance with Tajikistan’s legislation, the presidential election date should be announced no later than two months before the expiry of the term of office of the incumbent President.

“The previous presidential election was held on November 6, 2006 and its date was announced at a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament that took place on August 31, 2006,” Dodoyev said.

Under the current election legislation of Tajikistan, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan is elected by national vote for the seven-year term.  Tajikistan held a constitutional referendum on June 22, 2003 and the 2003 Constitution, among other amendments, set a limit of two seven-year terms for the president.

Emomali Rahmon’s election to the office of the president in 2006 counts as his first 7-year term under the 2003 Constitution, and in principle he may be re-elected for a second term in 2013, remaining in office until 2020.