State television in Turkmenistan reported on November 23 that the only son of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has become a parliamentary deputy.
Serdar Berdymukhammedov is representing the region of Ahal after winning a November 20 election to replace a deputy who resigned from parliament.
In July, President Berdymukhammedov appointed his son to a management post in the Foreign Ministry.
He previously has worked in other government positions, including the post of deputy agriculture minister.
Serdar Berdymukhammedov’s political appointments and candidacy in the November 20 by-election is seen by political analysts as a sign that he is being groomed to eventually succeed his father as president.
Berdymukhammedov became acting president in December 2006 after the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov.
In September, Turkmenistan amended its constitution in a way that allows Berdymukhammedov to stay in office for life.