President of Turkmenistan
The president of Turkmenistan is the head of state and of the executive power, is the highest official of Turkmenistan, and has the constitutional charter to act as a guarantor of national independence, territorial integrity, and adherence to the Constitution and international agreements.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow is the current president of Turkmenistan, only the second in the history of the country since it gained independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. He succeeded Turkmenistan's first president for life, Saparmurat Niyazov, when Niyazov died in 2006 after a reign of 15 years. In the 2017 election Berdimuhamedow received 98% of the country's popular vote against eight other candidates, and has now reigned for over years. The country passed reforms in 2016 eliminating term limits for the presidency and removing the previous age requirement of below 70, as well as extending the term from five to seven years. The President is also the supreme commander of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan and the chairman of the country's Cabinet of Ministers.
Requirements for presidents and removal from office
Requirements for candidates for president of Turkmenistan include the following:- Must have been born in Turkmenistan
- Must be fluent in the Turkmen language
- Must be at least 40 years old
- Must have resided in Turkmenistan for the past 15 consecutive years
- Must be employed
- Inability to perform their duties due to illness
- Violation of the constitution and public laws
- A vote of no confidence in the president
Residence
The Oguzkhan Presidential Palace is the principal residence/workplace of the president, located on Independence Square in Ashgabat. The various halls of the palace are used to receive foreign leaders and sign presidential decrees. Former president Saparmurat Niyazov owned a private residence in official residence in Arshabil, a town 28 kilometers outside of Ashgabat.Transport and security
The president of Turkmenistan utilizes a specially made Boeing 777-200LR, painted in the national colors, during international and regional visits. These planes are provided by Turkmenistan Airlines. The president employs a Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicle to transport him/her throughout the capital city. On some occasions, the vehicle is escorted by a mounted troop from the armed forces. The president also utilizes trains to transport them from one place to another.The Presidential Security Service is responsible for ensuring the protection and security of the president. Established in November 1990, it is an directly reporting body of the President of Turkmenistan. In the early 1990s, the Presidential Security Service was removed from the National Security Committee and transformed into an independent body. On September 23, 1994, the Law of Turkmenistan "On the operative-search activity" came into force, according to which one of the main tasks of the service is to ensure the security of the President of Turkmenistan. During state visits to foreign countries, the service provides at least 10 agents to protect the president. The Presidential Security Service is organized in the following way:
- Secretariat
- Duty Division
- 1st Division
- 2nd Division
- 3rd Division
- 4th Division
- Special Operations Regiment
- *1st Battalion
- *2nd Battalion
- *3rd Battalion
Heads of the Security Service
After the dismissal of Khojaberdiyev, the appointment of a new chief was not reported.List of presidents of Turkmenistan
| No. | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Political party |
| 1 | Saparmurat Niyazov | 2 November 1990 | 21 December 2006 | Communist Party of Turkmenistan Democratic Party of Turkmenistan | |
| 2 | Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow | 21 December 2006 | Present | Democratic Party of Turkmenistan Independent |