“Like one’s own father”: Mirziyoyev building own campaign on Karimov’s authority

The candidates for president are already known in Uzbekistan. All the four registered political parties have nominated their representatives for that post. Experts expect no more candidates to emerge. Besides Shavkat Mirziyoyev representing the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, there are other three candidates for president: Sarvar Otamuradov, a member of the Democratic Party Milly Tiklanish (National Revival), Narimon Umarov, a member of Adolat Social Democratic Party, and Hotamjon Ketmonov, a member of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. Experts say the last three are marginal participants. As EADaily reported earlier, the key candidate is the incumbent prime minister, acting president Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has de facto launched his campaign using the authority of the late president Islam Karimov. He compares Karimov with his father. “That man has educated me like my father did,” Mirziyoyev said in his speech at the meeting of the Jizzakh City Council on September 17, according to RFE/RL Uzbek Service.

Speaking about Islam Karimov, Mirziyoyev called him “the honor of the Uzbek people” and urged those present to “serve for the people conscientiously.”

“Our respectful president created a strong system. Things will come right, if we serve for the people fairly and justly,” he said promising to do his best for that.

On that very meeting, Mirziyoyev fired at least seven members of the Council. “Everything I do today I do for the future of Jizzakh and the people. We will the jobs, salary, investments. Hopefully, our future will be bright,” the candidate for president said.

To recall, Islam Karimov who governed the country for 27 years passed away of September 2 2016. He suffered a brain hemorrhage. On September 8, 2016, the Uzbek parliament appointed Shavkat Mirziyoyev as acting president. The Central Electoral Commission set snap elections for December 4 2016.