Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow

Turkmenistan's reigning strongman Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov bagged a new seven-year term with nearly 98 percent of a weakly contested vote, electoral officials said on Feb. 13, following a preliminary count.

Turkmen leader Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was certain to secure a third term in office in yesterday's presidential election, maintaining his grip on power in the isolated gas-rich nation. 

Some nine candidates will be on the ballot for a presidential poll in reclusive Turkmenistan on Feb. 12, but only one - incumbent president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov - stands a chance of winning.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's Democratic Party has nominated him as a candidate in the February 2017 election, the state news agency reported late on Dec. 14. He is widely expected to secure a third term in office. 

Turkmenistan on Feb. 15 formally launched a "public discussion" over constitutional changes to extend the president's term and drop the age limit for candidates.

State media in the energy-rich ex-Soviet state on Feb. 15 backed moves to boost presidential terms from five to seven years and scrap the 70-year age limit for candidates.

Japan and Turkmenistan on Oct. 23 signed deals worth over $18 billion on a package of projects in the energy-rich central Asian nation, which has become an important supplier of natural gas to China.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov pointed to the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline as a possible step towards the achievement of greater energy diversification.

Borisov stated this during his meeting with the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in Ashgabat on Tuesday, the government's press service informs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a visit to Turkmenistan on July 11 backed stronger energy ties with the gas-rich ex-Soviet state.

Turkmenistan's leader Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has sacked several senior government officials, citing pervasive corruption and slow reforms in key sectors of the economy, state television reported on July 10.

The speaker of ex-Soviet Turkmenistan's pliant parliament has proposed constitutional changes extending the presidential term limit and removing the maximum age for the presidency, state media reported May 29.