The ruling Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT) won a majority in the 125-member Assembly. It took 65 seats, up from 55 at the previous elections held in 2018. During election campaigning, many candidates reportedly focused on matters that concern the youth, such as higher education, job opportunities and housing.



On 6 April, the newly elected Assembly held its first session and elected Ms. Dunyagozel Akmuhammedovna Gulmanova as its new Chairwoman. She is the former Deputy Chairperson of the now-defunct upper chamber of parliament (see note). At 34, she is the youngest person in Turkmenistan to assume the post.



Note: 

Between March 2021 and January 2023, Turkmenistan had a bicameral parliament, Milli Gengesh (National Council), comprising a 125-member Mejlis (Assembly) and a 56-member Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council)*, headed by the then President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The President’s son, Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was elected at the early presidential elections held in March 2022. Former President Berdimuhamedov remained the Chairman of the People’s Council.

On 21 January 2023, the Joint Session of the Chambers of the Parliament adopted the Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan, transforming the parliament from bicameral to unicameral again. The Halk Maslahaty has become the highest representative body with broad powers, representing the interests of the people of Turkmenistan. Former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was appointed as the Chairman of the new Halk Maslahaty.

*The Halk Maslahaty formed in 2021 comprised eight members appointed by the President and 48 indirectly elected members: eight representatives from each of the country’s five regions and Ashgabat (the capital city) who themselves were elected by the regional halk maslahaty.