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TRUTH EMERGES THROUGH DEBATE: THE ROLE OF HEALTHY
COMPETITION AND OPPOSITION IN PARLIAMENT
Ikhtiyor Bekov
DSc, Professor
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17007636
Annotation.
The article highlights the role of the parliament within the
system of state power, with particular emphasis on the significance of healthy
political competition and opposition. In addition to its legislative function, the
parliament also performs oversight, thereby playing a decisive role in the
development of democratic processes and the protection of the people’s
interests. The article analyzes the balance between the majority and the
opposition as an essential factor in improving the legislative process, enhancing
the quality of laws, and ensuring the efficiency of public administration.
Furthermore, it presents historical examples of the formation of factions and
blocs in the Parliament of Uzbekistan and their activities as opposition.
According to the author’s conclusion, the effective functioning of the institution
of opposition requires the development of political culture and the practice of
national parliamentarism.
Keywords:
Parliament, parliamentary oversight, faction, faction bloc,
parliamentary majority, parliamentary opposition
Introduction
The institution of parliament plays a decisive role in maintaining the
balance among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of state power in
accordance with the principle of separation of powers, ensuring checks and
balances, strengthening democratic processes in the country, and protecting the
interests of the people. Parliament not only adopts laws but also exercises
parliamentary oversight, thus serving as one of the key institutions that ensures
the stable and effective functioning of state authority.
Undoubtedly, it is difficult to imagine a modern democratic governance
system without healthy political competition between the parliamentary
majority and the opposition. This institution is considered an important factor in
increasing the efficiency of public administration and ensuring that adopted
laws are well-founded and comprehensive.
Results
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in his
historic speech at the first session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis
following the elections, emphasized the need to revitalize the institution of
parliamentary opposition, stating: “If the healthy competition witnessed during
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elections and the struggle of opposing views move into parliament, we firmly
believe that this will undoubtedly serve the adoption of laws in line with the
interests of the people.” [1] For this purpose, the Head of State proposed to
increase the number of guaranteed rights of the parliamentary opposition from
three to six, to grant them the right to hold one committee chairmanship and
two deputy chairmanships, and to introduce additional rights such as raising at
least one issue per quarter within the framework of the “Government Hour” and
parliamentary inquiries.
Undoubtedly, many decisions of parliament are adopted under the
significant influence of the majority. However, in the activities of a truly
democratic parliament, it is important that the authority of the majority does not
turn into absolute power, but rather that balance is maintained by taking into
account the position of the opposition. The parliamentary opposition seeks to
defend its views and position as an alternative to the decisions of the majority.
Through this, it is worth noting that the diversity of ideologies and opinions—
political pluralism enshrined in the Constitution—is also ensured in state
activities.
In recent years, significant reforms have been carried out to improve the
organizational and legal foundations of the activities of the Parliament of
Uzbekistan – the Oliy Majlis. These reforms also extend to the institutions of the
parliamentary majority and opposition. It is impossible to imagine these two
concepts separately. The reason is that in conditions where a parliamentary
majority exists and decisions are adopted primarily by the majority, there arises
a genuine need for a parliamentary opposition that advances alternative
proposals. Diverse opinions and critical approaches help prevent decisions
adopted by parliament from being one-sided and ensure that they are formed on
the basis of broader interests.
Looking back at history, it becomes evident that several factions in the
Parliament of Uzbekistan have functioned as opposition. For instance, on 17
February 2005, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) faction announced that it
would assume the role of parliamentary opposition in response to the formation
of a democratic bloc uniting the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the
Fidokorlar People’s Democratic Party, and the Adolat Social Democratic Party.
On 18 March 2015, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the
Republic of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution “On the statement of the factions of
the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople – the Liberal Democratic
Party of Uzbekistan and the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan ‘Milliy Tiklanish’ on
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the establishment of the Democratic Forces Bloc.” [2] On the same day, the
Legislative Chamber also adopted a resolution declaring the faction of the
People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy
Majlis as the parliamentary opposition to the Democratic Forces Bloc, which
constituted the majority.
In the current convocation of the Legislative Chamber, the unification of
factions into a bloc has also been observed. In particular, on 5 May 2025, the
faction of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople – the Liberal
Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and the faction of the Democratic Party of
Uzbekistan “Milliy Tiklanish” signed an agreement to form the “Progress Bloc.”
This bloc united 93 deputies and constituted the parliamentary majority. At the
same time, on 13 May 2025, the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan
officially declared itself the parliamentary opposition, announcing that it did not
support certain directions of the “Progress Bloc” and the government’s program.
As an opposition faction, the party identified representing the interests of its
electorate and defending the principles of social justice as its main tasks. [3] [4]
Based on the above, it can be concluded that the institution of parliamentary
opposition is not new for the Parliament of Uzbekistan.
To begin with, the literal meaning of the word opposition (from the Latin
oppositio – “to set against”) refers to a minority that does not recognize official
views and represents perspectives and objectives differing from those of the
majority in political processes. In global parliamentary practice, there are two
widely recognized models of opposition: the Westminster (Anglo-Saxon) model
and the Continental (French) model. [5] In the Westminster model, there is a
clear distinction between who is in power and who is in opposition: those who
win the elections form the government, while those who lose become the
opposition. In the constitutions of states following this model, special emphasis
is placed on the status of parliamentary opposition. In the French model, the
parliamentary opposition is formed by several parties. Hence, the institution of
parliamentary opposition is widespread throughout the world, has proven
effective, and continues to hold significance today.
Historically, in the Republic of Uzbekistan, the right of factions to form an
opposition has been linked to a number of normative-legal acts. Prior to the
adoption of the Constitutional Law “On Strengthening the Role of Political
Parties in Renewing and Further Democratizing State Governance and
Modernizing the Country” [6], the mechanisms of the “parliamentary majority”
and “parliamentary opposition” were not regulated by specific laws. However,
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they were provided for in Articles 56–57 of the Rules of Procedure of the
Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, approved
by Resolution No. 102-I of 28 July 2005. [7] Article 56 of the Rules stipulated
that factions may unite into a bloc in order to express their common interests
and coordinate their activities, while Article 57 stated that a faction or a bloc of
factions uniting more than half of the deputies shall constitute the parliamentary
majority. From an organizational standpoint, a faction not part of the majority
could declare itself the parliamentary opposition. However, this regulation left
open questions regarding the specific rights and privileges of the opposition.
Since the temporary regulations of the chambers mainly governed their internal
procedures, there was a clear necessity to regulate these relations at the level of
law.
The adoption of the Constitutional Law “On Strengthening the Role of
Political Parties in Renewing and Further Democratizing State Governance and
Modernizing the Country” provided a legal definition and clarity to the concepts
of “parliamentary majority” and “parliamentary opposition.”
In this regard, with the will and support of our people, the rights of the
opposition were enshrined at the constitutional level in the renewed
Constitution. This serves, on the basis of the principle of a “state serving the
people,” to bring democratic processes in the country to a new stage and to
make all branches of power more responsible and accountable. According to
Article 39 of our Constitution, the rights, freedoms, and dignity of persons
belonging to the opposition minority in political parties, public associations,
mass movements, as well as in representative bodies of state power, may not be
discriminated against by anyone.
The legal foundations of the functioning of the parliamentary opposition are
continuing to be improved. In particular, on 30 July 2025, the Law of the
Republic of Uzbekistan No. ORQ-1077 “On Introducing Amendments and
Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aimed at
Expanding the Guaranteed Rights of the Parliamentary Opposition” was
adopted. [8] This law consists of six articles and provides that a political party
faction declaring itself the parliamentary opposition shall be guaranteed the
right to hold one committee chairmanship and two deputy chairmanships; to
submit an alternative draft version of a bill before its second reading; and to
raise at least one issue per quarter within the framework of the “Government
Hour” and parliamentary inquiries. These changes further clarified the status
and powers of the institution of parliamentary opposition.
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In addition, a faction that declares itself as the parliamentary opposition,
alongside the powers provided for all factions by law, is entitled to have its
separate opinion on the issues under discussion included in the minutes of the
plenary session of the Legislative Chamber; as well as to ensure the guaranteed
participation of its representatives in the conciliation commission regarding a
law rejected by the Senate. Furthermore, it is firmly established that the legally
guaranteed rights of the parliamentary opposition may not be infringed or
discriminated against by the parliamentary majority.
From the above, it follows that there are clear norms and mechanisms in
our legislation to ensure the rights of the opposition. At the same time, the
ability of minority factions in the Oliy Majlis to declare themselves as opposition
and exercise their rights can serve to qualitatively strengthen the work of
parliament. Undoubtedly, the consolidation of the institution of parliamentary
opposition in legislation is an important achievement; however, ensuring its
effective functioning requires the further development of political culture,
national traditions of parliamentarism, and practical mechanisms. After all, truth
is born in debate and discussion.
References:
1.
Speech by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the first session of the
Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis following the elections.
https://president.uz/uz/lists/view/7711
2.
Resolution of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of
Uzbekistan dated March 18, 2015, No. 78-III, on the statement of the factions of
the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – the Liberal Democratic
Party of Uzbekistan and the Democratic Party “Milliy Tiklanish” regarding the
establishment of the “Bloc of Democratic Forces”. https://lex.uz/docs/-2629844
3.
Official statement on the establishment of the “Progress Bloc” in the
Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
https://parliament.gov.uz/oz/news/ozbekiston-respublikasi-oliy-majlisi-
qonunchilik-palatasidagi-taraqqiyot-blokini-tashkil-etish-togrisida-rasmiy-
bayonot
4.
Resolution of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of
Uzbekistan dated May 13, 2025, No. 871-V, on the statement of the faction of the
People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan declaring itself the parliamentary
opposition. https://lex.uz/uz/docs/-7588200
5.
Ismailov B. “Genesis of the Legal Regulation of the Status of Political
Opposition.” // www.portalus.ru
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6.
Constitutional Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated April 11, 2007, No.
O‘RQ-88, “On strengthening the role of political parties in renewing and further
democratizing
state
governance
and
modernizing
the
country”.
https://lex.uz/docs/-1164590
7.
Resolution of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of
Uzbekistan dated July 28, 2005, No. 102-I, “On the Rules of Procedure of the
Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.
https://lex.uz/docs/6205124
8.
Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated July 30, 2025, No. O‘RQ-1077, “On
introducing amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic
of Uzbekistan aimed at expanding the guaranteed rights of the parliamentary
opposition”. https://lex.uz/pdfs/7658631
