Uzbekistan is actively preparing for the implementation of constitutional reforms.

Proposals are being made to improve the Constitution. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the meeting with members of the Constitutional Commission, put forward several important proposals and initiatives in this direction.

On June 23, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis hosted a joint meeting of the factions of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople – the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and the “Milliy Tiklanish” Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. The parties exchanged views on the proposals and initiatives put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the meeting with members of the Constitutional Commission, their essence and content, as well as the role of the two parties in the next stage of ongoing constitutional reforms.

Members of the factions fully supported the proposals and initiatives put forward by the President at the meeting with members of the Constitutional Commission. They also highly appreciated the activities of the Constitutional Commission.

In the first reading of the meeting, the draft Constitutional Law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, introduced by a group of deputies based on a constitutional legislative initiative, was considered. It was noted that the draft law establishes the norms regarding the formation of a favorable business and investment climate in the country, the creation of conditions for the development of entrepreneurship, the protection of fair competition, the prevention of monopolization of economic activities, ensuring the right of entrepreneurs to carry out any activity not prohibited by law, the right to independently choose activities and receive unlimited business income.

The draft law determines that land can also be private property, and forest land intended for agriculture belongs to the state, so they are allocated to citizens based on the lease agreements. At the same time, the document reflects the norms for ensuring openness for members of the public of the procedure for considering and adopting the state budget, for the state to take the necessary measures for the active participation of citizens in the budget process.

Members of the faction of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople – the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan paid special attention to the importance of securing land relations at the constitutional level and expressed their views on this issue. According to them, this will serve to stimulate business and investment activity and increase the share of the private sector in GDP from the current 67 to 80 percent.

Members of the faction of the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milliy Tiklanish” noted that the norms envisaged by the draft law to promote the development of the state system of preschool education, ensure the right of every child to annual preparatory education in the system of general secondary education, to free public general secondary education, compulsory general secondary education and continuing education, regardless of the financial situation of talented youth, are fully consistent with the party’s pre-election program.

It was emphasized that the draft law has now been finalized and improved, members of factions and party organizations of both parties took part in its preparation with their proposals. Several proposals were made based on their ideas and goals.

At the joint meeting of the factions, the amendments and additions introduced to the draft Constitutional Law were considered in detail. The document was conceptually supported in the first reading.

Mukhtarama Komilova, UzA