DUSHANBE. Dec 16 (Interfax) - President Emomali Rahmon's nominations for Tajikistan's new government have been approved by both houses of parliament unanimously and without debates.
"For seven years, the members of government who have stepped down after the presidential election in the country have served honestly and conscientiously for the prosperity of Tajikistan and its people," lower house chairman Shukurdzhon Zukhurov said.
Zukhurov proposed that parliament hold a single confirmation vote on the new government rather than putting each nomination to the vote separately. The legislature accepted the proposal.
Rahmon, who has been president since November 1992, won one more seven-year term in the presidential election of November 6, 2013. The then government formally stepped down after Rahmon's inauguration on November 16.
Late last month Rahmon finished nominations for the next government, replacing eight of the 14 ministers, including the prime minister and three of the four deputy prime ministers.
The constitution authorizes the president to appoint and dismiss ministers.
The new government has one woman member more than the former: Markhabo Dzhabborova has been appointed deputy prime minister in charge of social policy, and Sumangul Tagoyeva has become minister of labor, migration and employment.
The new government has an average age of 52 years compared with its predecessor's 57 and includes three ministers who hold doctoral degrees whereas there was only one holder of a doctorate in the previous government.
Observers have been surprised that Sherali Gul, who was energy and industry minister in the former government and is married to one of Rahmon's daughters, has not been included in the new formation.
Another source of surprise for observers was the replacement of the foreign minister and finance minister.
The foreign affairs portfolio went over from Khamrokhon Zarifi to Sirodzhiddin Aslov, former Tajik representative at the United Nations. Abdusalom Kurbonov, head of the Construction Directorate for Governmental Facilities, was substituted for Safarali Nadzhmuddinov as finance minister.
Rahmon's 26-year-old son Rustam Emomali was appointed chief of the Customs Service.