Tajik president's party gains 51.9% of votes in parliamentary elections

DUSHANBE. March 3 (Interfax) - Tajik Central Elections and Referenda Commission Chairman Bakhtiyor Khudoerzoda has posted preliminary results of elections of the parliament's lower house and legislative bodies of regions, cities, districts and villages.

"Out of 5,522,038 registered voters, 4,712,967 came to polls. The voter turnout stood at 85.3%," Khudoerzoda said at a press briefing.

The election was thus declared valid.

The People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan led by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon gained 2,435,541, or 51.9% votes.

The Agrarian Party gained 986,887 votes, or 21%, and won five parliament seats. The Party of Economic Reforms won three parliament seats with 595,291 votes, or 12.3%.

The Socialist Party got 248,064 votes, or 5.3%, versus 237,563 votes, or 5.1%, won by the Democratic Party. Both of them get one parliament seat. The Communist Party failed to pass the 5% threshold with 89,538 votes and will have no seats in the parliament.

The election was held from 6 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Sunday.

By law, Tajikistan will announce final election results within two weeks.