Former Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has officially been named as chairman of the country's People's Council (Halk Maslahaty) under its new mandate as an independent legislative body.
The transition of the People's Council as parliament's house of representatives into the "supreme body of the people's power" was announced on January 21, and Berdymukhammedov was installed as its head by presidential decree later the same day.
Turkmenistan's president is Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov's son Serdar Berdymukhammedov, who was handed the post by his father last year. Also on January 21, Serdar Berdymukhammedov signed a law granting his father the title of "national leader of the Turkmen people."
The People's Council will now be separate from parliament and will be the "supreme power" in supervising all branches of rule with the right to change the constitution, adopt constitutional laws, and determine domestic and foreign policies.
SEE ALSO: 'Khanstitutions': In Central Asia, Constitutions Are Not For The Many, But For The FewMembers of the council are not elected and it consists of officials, regional representatives, and prominent members of unions and public organizations. The makeup of the remaining house in parliament is scheduled to be determined in an election on January 26.
The reformation of the parliament structure to once again make it a unicameral organ is apparently aimed at making Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov the paramount leader of the tightly controlled former Soviet republic.
In September 2020, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who was president from 2006 to 2022, turned the single-chamber parliament into a bicameral legislature by announcing the creation of the new upper house, the People's Council, and proclaiming himself as its chairman even though the constitution did not allow presidents to lead such a body.
Critics have said Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov's moves were made to secure his lifetime leadership and the eventual succession of the presidency to his son, Serdar, and his grandchildren.
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has also been accused of suppressing dissent during his presidency, and critics have seen few changes since Serdar Berdymukhammedov was sworn in as president in March last year.