Turkmenistan: A New Constitution and the President's New Attitude

Turkmenistan's new constitution was approved Sept. 26. The document included sweeping changes for the Central Asian state, including the disbanding of the top legislative body, called the People's Council. The dissolution of the People's Council is a move by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimukhammedov to consolidate power — something he would not do if he did not feel secure in his position.