2012 Turkmenistan presidential election

{{Infobox election

| country = Turkmenistan

| type = presidential

| previous_election = 2007 Turkmenistan presidential election

| previous_year = 2007

| next_election = 2017 Turkmenistan presidential election

| next_year = 2017

| election_date = 12 February 2012

| turnout =

| image1 = Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow 2012-09-11.jpg

| nominee1 = Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow

| party1 = Democratic Party of Turkmenistan

| popular_vote1 = 2,806,265

| percentage1 = 97.14%

| image2 = 3x4.svg

| nominee2 = Annageldi Ýazmyradow

| party2 = Democratic Party of Turkmenistan

| popular_vote2 =

| percentage2 = 1.07%

| map_image = Turkmenistan_Presidential_Election_(1992,_2007,_2012,_2017).svg

| map_caption = Results by region

| title = President

| before_election = Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow

| before_party = Democratic Party of Turkmenistan

| after_election = Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow

| after_party = Democratic Party of Turkmenistan

}}{{Politics of Turkmenistan}}

Presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan on 12 February 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan_sets_presidential_election_date/24287740.html|title=Turkmenistan Sets Election Date|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty}} They were Turkmenistan's fourth presidential elections and decided who would be the country's president for the next five years. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow won with 97% of the vote.

Candidates

=Official=

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, incumbent President of Turkmenistan{{cite news|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/no-surprise-at-polls-in-turkmenistan/453009.html|title=No Surprise at Polls in Turkmenistan|work=The Moscow Times}}
Rejep Bazarow, deputy head of the Daşoguz Province{{cite news|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/election-rivals-hail-turkmen-leader/451272.html|title=Election Rivals Hail Turkmen Leader|work=The Moscow Times}}
Kakageldi Abdullaýew, Governor of the Türkmenbaşy District
Gurbanmämmet Mollaniýazow, manager of Türkmennebit
Annageldi Orazberdiýewiç Ýazmyradow, Water Minister
Esendurdy Gaýypow, head of Lebapgurluşyk production association
Saparmyrat Batyrow, director of the Gökdepe textile mill
Ýarmuhammet Orazgulyýew, Deputy Energy and Industry Minister {{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmen_president_registers_for_election/24442383.html|title=Turkmen President Registers For Election|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty}}

All of them are members of Turkmenistan's only political party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan.{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/candidates_nominated_in_turkmen_presidential_race/24427823.html|title=Turkmen Presidential Nominations Made|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty}}

=Declared interest=

Nurmuhammet Hanamow, leader of the exiled Republican Party of Turkmenistan{{cite web|url=http://www.gundogar.org/?02480511522000000000000011000000|title=Гундогар :: Республиканская партия Туркменистана готова участвовать в выборах|website=www.gundogar.org}}

=Denied=

Aina Abayeva, English teacher nominated by the Civil Society Movement. Her request to participate was rejected because the organisation that nominated her was an unregistered NGO. Its lack of legal status meant that it did not have the authority to make such a nomination.{{cite web|url=http://www.gundogar.org/?02200512009000000000000013000000|title=Гундогар :: Opponents Float Proposals President Might Like|website=www.gundogar.org}}

Campaign

Campaigning started in October 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/articles/36548.html|title=В Туркменистане стартовала предвыборная президентская кампания - Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru}} During the campaign many of the candidates running against the incumbent president expressed their support for him, thus giving rise to suspicions that his victory was more or less guaranteed. According to an expert from the Chatham House, "the vote [was] a democratic sham" and an example of "faux democracy".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/13/turkmenistan-president-wins-election|title=Turkmenistan president wins re-election with 97% of vote|date=13 February 2012|work=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press}}