Turkmenistan declares ex-president national leader

The Chairman of Turkmenistan's upper house of parliament and former President, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, has been declared the country's national leader.

As reported by Turkmenportal, the news was announced on Turkmen television.

The MPs, addressing a joint session of Turkmenistan's parliamentary chambers on January 21, discussed and legislated Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's status as the national leader of the Turkmen people. His son and current Turkmen President, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, approved and signed them.

Furthermore, the Turkmen parliamentarians discussed the reorganisation of the country's parliament from bicameral to unicameral. The relevant draft constitutional law on amendments and additions to the constitution was sent for consideration by President Berdymukhamedov. He approved and signed it.

Ashgabat has also established a new governmental structure by forming a People's Council (Khalk Maslakhaty), the supreme body of popular power. The newly declared national leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov will be heading the structure.

The draft constitutional laws on amendments and additions to the country's constitution on the creation of the Khalk Maslakhaty have been signed by the current president of Turkmenistan.