Politics of Kyrgyzstan

Template:Politics of Kyrgyzstan

Contents

1 Political history since independence

2 Administrative divisions

3 Executive branch

4 Legislative branch

5 Judicial branch

6 Political parties and leaders

7 Political pressure groups and leaders

8 International organization participation

9 Flag description

Political history since independence

In the first years of Kyrgyzstan's full independence, President Askar Akayev appeared wholeheartedly committed to the reform process. However, despite the backing of major Western donors, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kyrgyzstan had consequential economic difficulties from the outset. These came mainly as a result of the breakup of the Soviet trading bloc, which impeded the Republic's smooth transfer to a free-market economy.

In 1993, allegations of corruption against Akayev's closest political associates blossomed into a major scandal. One of those accused of improprieties was Vice President Feliks Kulov, who resigned for ethical reasons in December. Following Kulov's resignation, Akayev dismissed the government and called upon the last communist premier, Apas Djumagulov, to form a new one. In January 1994, Akayev initiated a referendum asking for a renewed mandate to complete his term of office. He received 96.2% of the vote.

A new Constitution was passed by the Parliament in May 1993. In 1994, however, the Parliament failed to produce a quorum for its last scheduled session prior to the expiration of its term (February 1995). President Akayev was widely accused of having manipulated a boycott by a majority of the parliamentarians. Akayev, in turn, asserted that the communists had caused a political crisis by preventing the legislature from fulfilling its role. Akayev scheduled an October 1994 referendum, overwhelmingly approved by voters, that proposed two amendments to the Constitution, one that would allow the Constitution to be amended by means of a referendum, and the other creating a new bicameral parliament called the Jogorku Kenesh.

Elections for the two legislative chambers - a 35-seat full-time assembly and a 70-seat part-time assembly - were held in February 1995 after campaigns considered remarkably free and open by most international observers, although the election-day proceedings were marred by widespread irregularities. Independent candidates won most of the seats, suggesting that personalities prevailed over ideologies. The new Parliament convened its initial session in March 1995. One of its first orders of business was the approval of the precise constitutional language on the role of the legislature.

Kyrgyzstan's independent political parties competed in the 1996 parliamentary elections. A February 1996 referendum - in violation of the Constitution and the law on referendums - amended the Constitution to give President Akayev more power. It also removed the clause that parliamentarians be directly elected by universal suffrage. Although the changes gave the President the power to dissolve Parliament, it also more clearly defined Parliament's powers. Since that time, Parliament has demonstrated real independence from the executive branch.

An October 1998 referendum approved constitutional changes, including increasing the number of deputies in the upper house, reducing the number of deputies in the lower house, rolling back Parliamentary immunity, reforming land tender rules, and reforming the state budget.

Two rounds of Parliamentary elections were held on February 20, 2000 and March 12, 2000. With the full backing of the United States, the OSCE reported that the elections failed to comply with commitments to free and fair elections and hence were invalid. Questionable judicial proceedings against opposition candidates and parties limited the choice of candidates available to Kyrgyz voters, while state-controlled media reported favorably on official candidates only and government officials put pressure on independent media outlets that favored the opposition.

In 2002 Azimbek Beknazarov, a leading opposition figure, was imprisoned by the local authorities, in what many believe to be politically motivated circumstances. This led to protests resulting in clashes with police forces, culminating in the death of 5 people in Jalal-Abad.

As May approached the authorities further extended their hold on power, imprisoning the vocal former Presidential ally, Feliks Kulov, to 10 years for alleged "abuses of office". During the same month the entire government resigned, accepting blame for the loss of life during the protests earlier in the year. A new government lead by Nikolay Tanayev was then formed and has remained ever since.

In November the President faced yet more protests, as the opposition announced it would march on the capital and demand his resignation. The police reacted by arresting large amounts of demonstrators, further adding to international disapproval at the authoritarian nature of Akayev's government.

By June 2003, the lower house of Parliament announced that President Akayev and two other "puppet" leaders of Kyrgyzstan, from the Soviet era, would be given lifetime immunity from prosecution, raising the prospect of Akayev finally stepping down.

The opposition parties have since announced they will form a coallition to fight those parties linked to the government in the 2005 elections.

As of 2005, following disputed results of the 2005 parliamentary elections, Kyrgyzstan is in a state of political turmoil, with different parties claiming that they are the legitimate government. (See Tulip Revolution).

Administrative divisions

Kyrgyzstan is divided into 7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar):

note: administrative center names in parentheses

Independence: August 31, 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

Constitution: adopted May 5, 1993

note: amendment proposed by President Akayev and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature.

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Askar Akayev (since October 28, 1990)

Head of government: Prime Minister Nikolay Tanayev (since May 22, 2002)
note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev resigned on 22 May 2002 when five demonstrators were killed in a clash with police in March of 2002; First Deputy Prime Minister Kubanychbek Jumaliyev (since March 19, 2004).

Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.

Elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections last held October 29, 2000 (next to be held November or December 2005); prime minister appointed by the president; note - President Akayev has publicly stated that he will not seek reelection when his current term expires in 2005
election results: Askar AkayevKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote:

Askar Akayev - 74%
Omurbek Tekebayev - 14%
other candidates - 12%

note: election marred by serious irregularities.

previous election results: president Askar Akayev reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections held on December 24, 1995; prime minister appointed by the president; percent of vote:

Askar Akayev - 75%

note: elections were held early which gave the two opposition candidates little time to campaign; Akayev may have orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom was a major rival.

Legislative branch

Bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
note: in accordance with a 2003 referendum, the Parliament is slated to become unicameral with 75 deputies after the 2005 elections.

Elections:

Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005)
Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005)

Election results: Total seats by party in the Supreme Council were as follows:

Union of Democratic Forces - 12
Communists - 6
My Country Party of Action - 4
Independents - 73
Other - 10

note: the legislature became bicameral for the February 5, 1995 elections; the 2000 election results include both the Assembly of People's Representatives and the Legislative Assembly.

Previous elections:

Assembly of People's Representatives - held 5 February 1995

note: not all of the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly

Legislative Assembly - held 5 February 1995

note: not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president; Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration.

Political parties and leaders

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, WTrO

Flag description

The flag of Kyrgyzstan features a red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the reverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt.

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