On 12 February 2022 the Mejilis passed a resolution scheduling the election for 12 March in accordance with Article 81 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan. The incumbent's seven-year term was cut short by two years. The early election comes after the incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow said he was ready to resign, with his son Serdar Berdimuhamedow seen as most likely to become the next president.[2]