The presidency was introduced in Uzbekistan in March 1990, when Supreme Council of Uzbek SSR elected Islam Karimov, who was that time a first secretary of Central Committee of Communist Party of Uzbekistan, to the newly created post. In 1991, two months after the declaration of independence, the Law "On the Election of The President of Republic of Uzbekistan" was adopted, and on its basis, the first nation-wide elections of a President were held on December 29 of the same year. Two candidates participated in that elections -- Islam Karimov, representative of People Democratic Party of Uzbekistan ( NDPU) ( former Communist Party) and Muhammad Solih (pen-name, real name is Salai Madaminov), representing of Democratic Party "Erk" and since 1993 living abroad. On those elections Karimov was elected with 86% of the vote, while 12,3% voted for Muhammad Solih.

The next elections was originally scheduled for 1997. However, in February 1995 members of newly elected Parliament – Oliy Majlis- adopted resolution to conduct a referendum regarding prolongation of the term of Islam Karimov's presidency from 1997 till 2000. On March 26, 1995, 99,6% of the electorate voted for such prolongation. In May of the same year on the second session of Oliy Majlis Islam Karimov proposed to consider the prolonged period as the second official term of his presidency. At that time, members of Oliy Majlis formed special committee in order to study electorate opinion regarding this issue, and the committee came to conclusion that the majority of population of the republic does not support such President's proposal. On such a basis Oliy Majlis had issued a resolution in accordance to which the referendum has prolonged the first term of the Karimov's presidency. Therefore, he kept the right to nominate his candidature for the following president elections one time more.

In 1996 Islam Karimov withdrew from theNDPU because, according to the legislation of Uzbekistan, the President should suspend or stop his membership in a political party for the period of his presidency.

26 December 1997 some changes and corrections were introduced into the Law "About election of President of Republic of Uzbekistan». In new edition of the law age of the candidate to president is not limited with 65 years old. However, now candidate should know state language and permanently live on the territory of Uzbekistan at least for 10 years prior to elections. In accordance with new edition of the Law professional servicemen of religious organizations and units can not run for president.

In the initial variant of the law it was prohibited to hold office more than for two periods in a raw, and in the new edition of the law such condition is not mentioned. Now only political parties and local authorities have a right to nominate their own candidates. Moreover, political parties have to collect signatures to support their candidates – at least 1% of the electorate.

In 2000 two candidates took part in presidential elections. NDPU, probably with the consent of president’s entourage, nominated its first secretary Abdulhafiz Djalalov. Other political parties nominated Islam Karimov, however officially he was registered as a candidate of the recently established party "Fidokorlar".

Nobody questioned a victory of Islam Karimov on elections, and presence of competitor only formed an illusion of alternative elections supposedly providing legitimacy of the newly elected President from the viewpoint of democratic principles. Despite declaration of equal conditions for candidates, advantages of acting president were obvious. During presidential campaign both candidates met with electorate, spoke on TV, and mass media published biographies of candidates and their election programs. Newspapers published reports about meetings of candidates with electorate. Representatives of the community, working collectives, single citizens spoke in support only of Islam Karimov with appeals to vote only for him. Meantime, all achievements of the republic for the last decade were connected with his name only. On the meetings with the electorate held in regions of the republic Islam Karimov in details discussed achievements of the republic for the past years. Huge portraits of Islam Karimov were posted on central streets of Tashkent city. Uzbek division of BBC had conducted a survey regarding definition of "The Man of XX century in Uzbekistan" and Islam Karimov was named as such a man. However, when the alternative candidature of Abdulhafis Djalalov was discussed, mass media limited itself with information about meetings of the candidate with the electorate and appealed "to take active part in the elections", and " to give your voices for the most suitable candidate", without mentioning any names. No direct campaign in favor of Abdulhafiz Djalalov has been noted. Of course, he did not believe in his victory. Moreover, on the election day Abdulhafiz Djalalov said, while dropping a bulletin into the ballot-box, that he himself voted for Islam Karimov. In his election program Djalalov did not offer anything new but declared only devotion to the Constitution and laws of the republic, succession of the current policy. In the Islam Karimov' election program there were promises to increase minimum salary as minimum 3,5 times, and the income per capita - 2 times, to aim at stability of national currency and other concrete measures to improve wellbeing of population. Such promises were supported by real actions – beginning from August 1 1999 salaries for budget workers, stipends and pensions were increased for 1,4 times; just before the New Year the Presidential Decree about reduction of income tax was issued (max. tax rate was reduced from 45 to 40%). In December 1999 the Program of measures for 2000-2005 year in order to improve addressed social protection of lonely senior people, retired people and invalids was issued.

As local newspapers wrote international observers who monitor presidential campaign, diplomats accredited in the republic in unison spoke about their confidence of democratic nature of forthcoming elections and never forgot to mention that Karimov is a guarantor of stability in the country and expressed wishes to elected president to continue transformations that were initiated in the country. For example, president of Congress of Bukhara Jews of USA and Canada Mr. Boris Kandov believes that laws of Uzbekistan regarding elections of Parliament and president "fully comply international standards, support constitutional rights of electorate and democratic principles adopted by world community". Nerry Yushvaev (USA) who came to Uzbekistan as an observer does not doubt that elections "will be realized on a democratic ground" and expressed the hope " that the future president of Uzbekistan elected by people on alternative basis will continue already started strategy for development of the economy, culture of the country". He also believes " that festive mood that accompanied previous elections should be restored". Observer from Munich Leonid Levitin noted that when Islam Karimov became a leader of the republic "Uzbekistan was at the brink of precipice. Without the President Uzbekistan probably would not be saved. The strategy of republic’s development chosen by him is a good choice for all sectors of the economy". Mr. B.Fattahov, deputy of Parliament of Kyrgyzstan on behalf of Friendship Society "Kyrgyzstan- Uzbekistan" expressed his hope that "citizens of fraternal Uzbekistan will give their votes to Islam Karimov. Our hope is explained by the fact that free and prospering Uzbekistan under leadership of Islam Karimov will be a guarantor of good neighborly relations, mutual support and beneficial cooperation between our peoples and countries".

In accordance with the data of the Election Committee 95,1% of electorate participated in election on January, 9. 91,9% voted for Islam Karimov and 4,17% - for Abdulhafiz Djalalov. 3,93% of bulletins were considered not valid.

One of the reasons for such high result of population participation in the elections is the fact that often one voter votes for all his/her family members. At some election stations some small presents were given to voters, for example, disposal packages for garbage.

The opposition, naturally, took results of the elections not so optimistically. Thus, Solih, while answering on January 11, 2000 to questions of Radio Iran "Mashhad", called these elections not democratic, because there was not an actual alternative for Karimov. Muhammad Solih expressed his belief that Karimov will not be able to hold power during forthcoming five years and people will take action against him by themselves.

Thus, results of elections have reproduced the situation that had existed before them. From one hand, Islam Karimov managed to keep his power, and from the other hand – the united opposition (Solih plus Islamic radicals) does not recognizes legitimacy of this power and carries out subversive activity for its forced overthrow. So far advantage in this struggle has been on the side of Islam Karimov who concentrated in his hands huge resources and has been granted loyalty of regional elites. It is not by chance that such elites have got a substantial part of seats at the Parliament, and by his first step after reelection as a President Karimov confirmed by his Decree powers of all regional akims, except for the akim of Ferghana Valley.