On 21st of October, the presidential candidates, besides the incumbent Rahmonov started their pre-election tour in the regions of Tajikistan, reports AsiaPlus.

The most interesting thing in this news is that all of them are going to the regions together. They will meet the same people, at the same time and at the same place. As I understand they share the expenses of the tour.

Before this tour all of the presidential candidates gave many interviews and most of them have claimed that they are strongly convicted that they will win the forthcoming elections. Daler Gufronov, the journalist of Asia-Plus has conducted a shotgun-interview with all the candidates except Rahmonov. He asked all of them the same question about their advantages before Rahmonov and what makes them better than him.

He assumes in his article that it makes sense to run as a candidate for presidential position only if you are at least convicted that you will win the race. Or, if you believe that you can do something better than the incumbent. For example, run a more balanced foreign policy, or effectively battle the corruption, or faster feed the population. If you do not have such a conviction, Daler Gafurov thinks that there is no sense “to litter” the list of candidates.

The interview showed that the candidates are absolutely not ready to criticize their main opponent and popularly tell their electorate about their advantages before the current president.

Here is what responded the presidential candidates:

We should have our own political culture!

Ismoil Talbakov, the candidate from the Communist Party of Tajikistan respects all of his opponents, no matter what is the level of their public acceptance. The election campaign of the communists is based on promulgation of the best achievements which were made during the Soviet Union and the period of Independence. It will also propagate the advantages of plan economy and state ownership.

- Emomali Rahmonov did a lot for our people and he already has his place in the history. I can not judge what he can do and what not…

We need realistic reforms of the economy!

The leader of the Party for economic reforms of Tajikistan, professor Olim Boboev was more specific. He thinks that his advantage before the current president is that he is going to conduct the realistic reforms of the economy. He is not satisfied the reforms carried out by the Rahmonov. However, he admits that “people recognize Rahmonov as a hero”.

It is not easy to be on the same level with great Rahmonov!

The leader of the Socialist Party Abduhalim Gaffarov in the interview professed that “it is not easy to be on the same level with such a great person of the nation as Rahmonov”. He was even at loss and could not say what he can do better than Rahmonov.

- I can not respond anything to this question, while I am not the president. It is abstract.

However, A. Gafforov, as he said, “is not satisfied with the personnel policy run by Rahmonov”. He refused to amplify this scrupulous issue.

Do not disorient the people!

The Leader of the Agrarian Party of Tajikistan, Amir Karakulov decently refused to enumerate his advantages before any of the presidential candidates. “One should not disorient the people” – foggily said the agrarian. Thereat he said that he is running as a candidate for presidential position in order to show his advantages. The Agrarian Party, as he said, will pay more attention problems in the agrarian sector.

This interview again proves that all these candidates were nominated by one person who wants to make Tajikistan look more democratic than it is. If the candidates can not even publicly say what makes them better than their opponents then what is the reason to bear the expenses for the campaign. They will not even try to spend more money for the campaign than the allocated sum because they know that it is useless, and probably that is why they share the expenses for the tour around the country.

There is not even a reason to make worse the relations with the current president. It is better to use general words in the election campaign and use the opportunity to publicly praise Rahmonov. That is what the presidential candidates are going to do in the pre-election tour around the country.