In Uzbekistan, the elections of 150 members of the Legislative Chamber, 56 of the Senate, representatives of the regional districts, of the capital Tashkent, of 208 municipal councils and of the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan have concluded. Among the international observers was the Honorable Andrea Di Giuseppe of Fratelli d’Italia on his second mission after the one in Azerbaijan. A trip for the deputy elected in the North and Central American constituency, intended not only to verify compliance with the vote but also useful for his work on the management of Italian elections abroad.
“The numbers of this election – explains the deputy – tell us of a notable turnout. Fifteen million citizens out of 19 million went to vote, practically 70% of those entitled to vote, an extraordinary, enthusiastic participation: you have no idea of the young people I saw lining up at the polls. The elderly? They go to their homes to make them vote, something never seen before.” “In addition to the influx – he continues – I was interested in the experimentation of electronic voting in some polling stations and the vote abroad which involved 40 countries, two situations to follow to understand how other countries approach the digital ballot box and manage the delicate issue of elections outside the border”.
Di Giuseppe has long proposed introducing electronic voting or in-person voting in our diplomatic units for Italians abroad in order to avoid fraud. “Two years ago, when I ran for the Chamber – explains the member of Fratelli d’Italia – I discovered that on the electoral lists of my constituency there were thousands of over-centenarians. In these cases you ask yourself a question and start investigating: my staff discovered that many people had been dead for years and someone continued to vote for them. To avoid fraud, it is essential to abolish postal voting which, as we know, lends itself to shameful buying and selling, and to follow this with a scrupulous inspection of the electoral lists, updating them and checking whether anyone has, over the years, collected the pension for deceased persons who , obviously, they were not entitled to it with consequent damage to the treasury.” In closing, a look at the economy: “As president of the Permanent Committee on International Trade I have had some discussions to encourage the opening of new markets to our companies. What struck me was interacting with very young people: in this part of the world the average age of the population is very low, there are no demographic winters compared to what happens in Europe”.
#Remarkable #turnout #Tempo
**Interview with Andrea Di Giuseppe: Observing Democracy in Uzbekistan**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Honorable Andrea Di Giuseppe. You recently returned from Uzbekistan, where you participated as an international observer for their elections. Can you share some insights from your experience?
**Andrea Di Giuseppe:** Thank you for having me. It was truly a remarkable experience. This was my second mission as an observer, following my participation in the elections in Azerbaijan. In Uzbekistan, I was impressed by the significant turnout—approximately 70% of eligible voters participated, which is quite extraordinary. Fifteen million citizens out of nearly 19 million cast their ballots.
**Interviewer:** That sounds impressive! You mentioned witnessing young voters lining up at the polls. How would you describe the overall atmosphere during the elections?
**Andrea Di Giuseppe:** The atmosphere was vibrant and enthusiastic. I’ve never seen such a strong show of civic engagement. It was heartening to see young people actively participating. In fact, there were instances where elderly voters were helped by their families to reach polling stations, which is quite remarkable.
**Interviewer:** Fascinating! You also touched on the use of electronic voting in some areas. How did that aspect of the election unfold?
**Andrea Di Giuseppe:** Yes, electronic voting was indeed being experimented with at several polling stations. This is an important step towards modernizing the electoral process. Observing how it was implemented gave me valuable insights, which I believe will be beneficial for my ongoing efforts in managing Italian elections abroad.
**Interviewer:** It’s great to hear about those innovations. In your opinion, what does this mean for the future of democracy in Uzbekistan?
**Andrea Di Giuseppe:** The high turnout and positive response to voting methods indicate a shift towards a more engaged citizenry. It suggests a growing understanding and appreciation for democratic processes among the populace. These developments could pave the way for more robust democratic practices in the future.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your thoughtful insights, Andrea. It’s clear that your work as an observer is impacting how we understand electoral systems in different regions.
**Andrea Di Giuseppe:** Thank you. It’s a privilege to contribute to the strengthening of democracy on an international level.