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Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:
Turkmenistan local long form: none former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist
Republic local short form: Turkmenistan

Government type: republic

Capital: Ashgabat

Administrative divisions: 5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat):
Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dasoguz Welayaty,
Labap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty note: administrative divisions
have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have
the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President and Chairman of the
Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when
the first direct presidential election occurred); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government head of government:
President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV
(since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election
occurred); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government cabinet: elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA); note - President
NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by the Assembly
on 28 December 1999); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are
appointed by the president election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected
president without opposition; percent of vote - Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%
note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28 December
1999 by the Assembly (Majlis) during a session of the People's Council
(Halk Maslahaty)

Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two
parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty
(more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular vote and some
of which are appointed; meets infrequently) and a unicameral Assembly or
Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms) election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - NA; note - all 50 elected officials preapproved by
President NIYAZOV; most are from the DPT elections: People's Council -
NA; Assembly