Talk:1994 Turkmen parliamentary election

Number of candidates

The article has been amended to say there were only 50 candidates for the 50 seats, based on the IPU source. However, multiple other sources do say that one seat was contested:

• Nohlen et al. (p473): "The 1994 polls were definitely non-competitive, with 51 candidates for 50 seats"; (p479): "In 1994, only one of the 50 single-member constituencies (SMCs) was formally contested"
• RFE/RL: "And the parliamentary elections in 1994 had 51 candidates competing for 50 seats."
• Ó Beacháin & Prose "On 12 December 1994, 51 candidates vied for 50 seats"
• Peyrouse "In parliamentary elections in December 1994, there were only 51 candidates to fill 50 seats]
• Bohr: The first parliamentary elections in independent Turkmenistan took place in December 1994, when 49 candidates stood unopposed for the 50-member unicameral legislature (2 candidates contested the remaining seat)."

On the other hand, several say they were not:

• US Congress "Of the 50 candidates"
• Anderson "Parliamentary elections held in Turkmenistan in December 1994 saw 50 candidates contest the same number of seats".

Which ones are correct? Number 57 09:41, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

Acknowledging that I have seen this note. My edit did not mean to revert you - the software did not show any edit conflict for me. TrangaBellam (talk) 11:25, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

Ó Beacháin & Prose get some things wrong - the Jan. '94 referendum had a 100% voter turnout. RFE/RL is not to be trusted on specifics. Bohr is usually good, however.

I will consult my scans of contemporary Turkmen dailies. TrangaBellam (talk) 11:40, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

Anderson, John (1995-12-01). "Authoritarian political development in Central Asia: The case of Turkmenistan". Central Asian Survey. 14 (4): 513, 525. doi:10.1080/02634939508400922. ISSN 0263-4937.:

Similar levels of turnout were reported for parliamentary elections held in December 1994, when 50 candidates stood unopposed for the 50 seat mejlis, though unofficial reports suggested that in a number of places considerable numbers voted against the official candidate.
— See Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Daily Report, RL234. 941213, 14.12.1994; Nezavisimaya gazeta, 8.12.1994; Turkmenskaya iskra, 13.12.1994. Reuters claimed that 24% of voters in the town of Mari crossed out the name of the official candidate.

Here's someone who cites (primary) sources. No reason to believe that he got them wrong. TrangaBellam (talk) 12:03, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

Thanks. I wonder if official figures for the split between DPT and votes against is available anywhere. Number 57 12:26, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

I have the records. Let me check. TrangaBellam (talk) 14:59, 15 November 2021 (UTC)