Emomali Rahmon, who has been elected President of Tajikistan 4 times since 1992, has signed an order appointing his eldest son, Rustam Emomali, as mayor of Dushanbe. The 29-year-old, who is currently director of the National Financial and Anti-Corruption Bureau, is widely viewed as the eventual successor to his father as president
Power leads to corruption and absolute power leads to absolute corruption, and unlimited terms for elected officials usurp the rights of the people. Tajikistan’s constitutional mechanism is dysfunctional and in serious need of reform. Changes should include a modified semi-presidential system, limited the President to one 5-year term and exclusion from other offices for 6 years after that, plus election of the heads of the legislative, executive, judicial and procuratorial branches in alternating years. See the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.
