Tbilisi
Dictators don't usually quit.
Yet this is what seems to be announced in the former Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan, one of the most closed countries in the world.
On Saturday, the Electoral Commission announced an early presidential election for March 12.
The day before, before the Khalk Maslakhaty (the Upper House of a puppet Parliament), Gurbanguly Berdymoukhamedov, 64, supported the idea that the country should henceforth be "
entrusted to young leaders
".
But when the man who has reigned for fifteen years over this country of six million inhabitants speaks of "
young leaders
", everyone understands that he is thinking of his son.
Since 2018, Serdar has been prepared for a possible succession.
Four years ago, the only son of Mr. Berdymoukhamedov (who has three sisters) was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, before becoming governor of the Ahal region, at the heart of the logic of power in the country, then to enter the government a year ago, where he was soon given the portfolio...
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