Cable television, which existed in the late 1980s, was shut down. Turkmen authorities restrict the activities of all but the officially recognized Russian Orthodox and Sunni Muslim faiths.
Niyazov added the post of chairman of the Supreme Soviet in January 1990, and was elected as the country's first president that October.
Other parties are now formally allowed to exist following the adoption of the new Constitution. There have been political parties and opposition groups in the past—a group named Agzybirlik (Unity) was banned in January 1990.
Its members formed the Party for Democratic Development which was itself banned in 1991.
He was the only candidate in Turkmenistan's first presidential elections in 1992.
Turkmenistan is dominated by a pervasive cult of personality extolling the late president Niyazov as Türkmenbaşy ("Head Turkmen"), a title he assumed in 1993.
A 1994 plebiscite extended his term to 2002, and Parliament extended his term indefinitely in 1999. After the death of Niyazov, Deputy Prime Minister Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow took over, despite the fact that Öwezgeldi Ataýew, the Chairman of the Parliament of Turkmenistan, would be the next in line in the order of succession (allegedly because the prosecutor-general had initiated investigations against Ataýew).
The statement issued by the government indicated that all existing satellite dishes would have to be removed or destroyed—despite the communications receiving antennas having been legally installed since 1995—in an effort by the government to fully block access of the population to many "hundreds of independent international media outlets" which are currently accessible in the country only through satellite dishes, including all leading international news channels in different languages.
On 28 December 1999 the Mejlis (parliament) declared Niyazov President for Life.
A 1994 plebiscite extended his term to 2002, and Parliament extended his term indefinitely in 1999. After the death of Niyazov, Deputy Prime Minister Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow took over, despite the fact that Öwezgeldi Ataýew, the Chairman of the Parliament of Turkmenistan, would be the next in line in the order of succession (allegedly because the prosecutor-general had initiated investigations against Ataýew).
A 1994 plebiscite extended his term to 2002, and Parliament extended his term indefinitely in 1999. After the death of Niyazov, Deputy Prime Minister Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow took over, despite the fact that Öwezgeldi Ataýew, the Chairman of the Parliament of Turkmenistan, would be the next in line in the order of succession (allegedly because the prosecutor-general had initiated investigations against Ataýew).
The president appoints the deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers. A presidential election to replace Niyazov was held on 11 February 2007. ==Legislative branch== As of 2021, Turkmenistan's Parliament ("National Council", Milli Geňeş) is bicameral, with a 56-seat upper chamber ("People's Council", Halk Maslahaty) and 125-seat lower chamber ("Assembly", Mejlis).
(The Mejlis itself had taken office only a week earlier in elections that included only candidates hand-picked by President Niyazov; no opposition candidates were allowed.) Prior to 2008 the authorities permitted only a single political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan.
The latter resulted in the abolition of the Council and a significant increase in the size of Parliament in December 2008.
Since all opposition was banned within Turkmenistan, it was forced to form and operate from abroad. In November 2009, state media in Turkmenistan published the names of candidates running in the parliamentary election.
Elections to the Mejlis were last held March 25, 2018. ===De facto authority=== Outside observers consider the Turkmen legislature to be a rubber stamp parliament.
In September 2020 the Turkmenistan Parliament adopted a constitutional amendment creating an upper chamber and thus making the Parliament bicameral.
The president appoints the deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers. A presidential election to replace Niyazov was held on 11 February 2007. ==Legislative branch== As of 2021, Turkmenistan's Parliament ("National Council", Milli Geňeş) is bicameral, with a 56-seat upper chamber ("People's Council", Halk Maslahaty) and 125-seat lower chamber ("Assembly", Mejlis).
Together with the previous unicameral parliamentary body, the 125-seat Mejlis, as the lower chamber, the Parliament is now called the National Council (Milli Geňeş). Election to the upper chamber was held March 28, 2021.
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