The start of the millennium finds the Republic of Tajikistan at a period of self-searching, of political compromise, and hopefully of consolidating peace in society. It is also a period of activity by political parties and other social organizations that may further the development of democracy in the country. On 27 February and 23 March, 2000, elections to the Supreme Legislature (Majlisi Oli) and local representative organs, the Majlisi Milli (Upper House) and Majlisi Namoyandagon (Lower House) will be held. These elections will give further evidence that the Tajikistan government is following through on promised political reforms to unite the country that are connected with peace agreements that ended the Tajkistan civil war. The elections will produce the first full-time professional parliament in Central Asia.

The new constitutional laws on elections went into effect on 10 October 1999. They provide wide opportunities for legislative initiatives and the law-making activities of Tajikistan’s political parties. All six of the registered political parties are taking part in the elections. These include the Democratic Party, Adolat ("Justice") Party, Islamic Renaissance Party, People's – Democratic Party, Communist Party, and Socialist Party. The parties have equal footing in the elections. Each party has its own agenda and they differ on many significant points reflected in their party platform rules.

There are a total of 96 members in the Supreme Legislature (Majlisi Oli) that is divided into an Upper House and a Lower House. The Upper House (Majlisi Milli), has 33 members. The Lower House (Majlisi Namoyandagon) has a total of 63 representatives, One representative is elected in each of the 41 electoral districts. The other 22 seats are elected by the parties and apportioned based on the percentage each party receives during the popular vote. The 41 electoral districts are grouped into five larger regional districts called "oblasts." On 27 February, elections for representatives to the five Oblast Councils will be held. On 23 March, elections for the 33 representatives of the Upper House will take place. In the elections for the Upper House, representatives of the five Oblast Councils will elect 75% of the Upper House representatives and President Rakhmanov will appoint the remaining 25%.

All members of the government, including Ministers and their deputies, must resign from their positions two months before the election so as to preclude candidates from using their office for political gain. The same holds true for heads of state commissions, companies, associations, corporations and their deputies, including the General Prosecutor, law court officials and all bank personnel. A candidate to both houses of the Supreme Legislature must be a citizen of Tajikistan for no less than five years and is eligible for candidacy regardless of sex, ethnicity, religious belief, or party affiliation. All candidates to both houses must at least have a four-year college education. Candidates to the Lower House must be at least 25 years old, while candidates to the Upper House must be at least 35 years old.

Yakobjon Abdukhalikov, ACTR Fellow, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, The Johns Hopkins University--SAIS