Newly elected President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev took the oath at a joint session of the Houses of Parliament today and delivered an inaugural address.

“People are now waiting for new practical results from us. Millions of people - our parents, sisters, sons and daughters – are now looking at us with hope and trust," the president said.

“To live up to this hope and trust, to strengthen our achievements with new results, should become not only our task, but also our human duty,” he stressed.

The head of state noted that leaders at all levels will be judged “not by lofty and grandiloquent words,” but by the concrete results of their activities.

“We will bid farewell to any leader who does not respect laws and people, treats them rudely, will be involved in red tape and corruption, whether he is a minister, governor, mayor, an official in another responsible position, to people who undermine the reputation of the state with their negative actions,” the president said.

They will be replaced by "educated young men and women who care for the Motherland and the people."

“Here and now, many young people with potential who studied at prestigious universities in our country and abroad, worked in large companies are joining our ranks,... It's true,” he said.

Uzbekistan should become a country that “gets rid of the problems of bureaucracy and corruption,” continued Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

“Reformers and investors should know that Uzbekistan is a democratic system, that Uzbekistan is open, and that there is no bureaucracy. Most importantly, if they say that there is no corruption, all our work will be as we promised the people. Dear senators, deputies, participants in today's solemn meeting, we all need to know that it is all in our hands. If we pass laws and decrees that meet modern requirements, we will make efforts, of course, we have already taken the first steps, but I said for a reason that our people are closely watching, asking what will be reformed, what positive results will this bring into my life, on my street, in neighbourhood, district, province,” he said.

“Our entire system will change,” the head of state assured. “Those who will not reform themselves, we will force them to do so. If they don't change, we'll bid them farewell. Because this is the requirement of the time,” the president stressed.

He said that he sees in the youth "the new leaders of our tomorrow, skilled managers of provinces, industries and trades."

“They are a bit lacking in experience. If in all spheres they are appointed as deputies or assistants, in six months, a year, two, they will become skillful leaders. Because they are patriots, they know what it is like to live in a foreign land abroad, they know what knowledge is, what the Motherland is, what it is to miss the Motherland, they returned with these feelings,” the head of state said.

In the same speech, Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that the activities of the constructive opposition would be guaranteed in Uzbekistan, as well as the rights of citizens to receive, use and disseminate information.

In January 2020, the president noted: “From now on, we will bid farewell to leaders who spend time in offices, put paperwork above results.” In August 2021, he stated that leaders who do not understand the reform process aimed at ensuring the interests of the country, the future of society, the happiness of children, will leave for good.