The Party of Economic Reforms of Tajikistan (PERT) held its extraordinary congress in Dushanbe on August 24.

About 60 delegates reportedly participated in the congress, which discussed the party’s election program and nominated its candidate for president.

PERT leader Rustam Rahmatzoda (Qudratov), who is also member of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament, has been nominated to run for presidency.  

Recall, Tajikistan's parliament has set October 11 as the date for the country's next presidential election.  The resolution on the election date was approved on August 6 during a joint session of both chamber of parliament.    

The Party of Economic Reforms was registered with the Ministry of Justice on November 9, 2005.  The party’s aims are to reduce poverty, conduct proper privatizations, and attract foreign investment.

According to some source, the party now has some 20,000 members.

The Party of Economic Reforms secured five seats in this year’s parliamentary elections, including four seats won by the party list and one seat won in a single-mandate constituency.

In the previous Majlisi Namoyandagon, the PERT had three seats.   

To-date, four of seven officially registered political parties of Tajikistan have nominated their candidates for president: the Agrarian Party of Tajikistan; the Socialist Party of Tajikistan; the Democratic Party of Tajikistan; and the Party of Economic Reforms of Tajikistan.  

The Communist Party and the ruling People’s Democratic Party will nominate their candidates for president in September.

As far the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT) is concerned, its leader says the party’s organizations in cities and districts oppose the participation of Social-Democrats in the upcoming presidential election.