2021 Kyrgyz parliamentary election
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Snap parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Kyrgyzstan on 28 November 2021.[1][2] They follow the annulment of the results of the October 2020 elections and the subsequent protests.
Background[edit]
Following the large-scale 2020 Kyrgyzstani protests which resulted in annulation of the October parliamentary election results as well as resignation of President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, the Central Election Commission (CEC) head Nurjan Shyldabekova on 16 October 2020 announced that the re-election for the MP's could be held on 20 December, to which it was then scheduled on 21 October at the CEC meeting.[3] However, just a day later on 22 October, the Supreme Council voted on a bill postponing the snap parliamentary elections and it would be held no later than 1 June 2021, after new amendments to the Constitution would be adopted.[4][5]
On 10 January 2021, the presidential and government system referendum elections were held concurrently. From there, Sadyr Japarov was elected as president with majority of voters approving his vision of a constitutional reform that called for a return of the country's presidential system.[6] After Japarov assumed office, he announced that the parliamentary elections would not be held in June, but in autumn instead while giving an interview to Kazakh-based Kazinform news agency.[7]
During the course of political changes, Kyrgyzstan suffered a democratic backslide with a drop in its Freedom House world ranking to the "Not Free" category. In addition, several activists and academicians who criticised the authorities were charged with treason after being accused of calling for a violent seizure of power.[8][9][10]
A new draft of the Constitution was unveiled in February 2021, which resulted in another calls for a referendum that was held in April 2021 and was approved by a majority of voters.[11][12] After coming to force on 5 May 2021, the seats in the Supreme Council were reduced from 120 to 90 along with the MP's powers and a political advisory body People's Kurultai was formed.[13] The head of state (President) was granted more executive authority as well as the powers to appoint almost all judges and heads of law enforcement agencies.[13] New amendments to the Criminal Code, of which were proposed by the Ministry of the Interior, received condemnation by the Human Rights Watch, warning that it would "endanger freedom of association and speech".[14][15]
Electoral system[edit]
Out of the 90 seats in the Supreme Council 54 will be elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency, and 36 in single-seat districts.[16] To win seats, parties must pass a national electoral threshold of 3% of the votes cast (down from 7% in the October 2020 elections),[2] and receive at least 0.7% of the vote in each of the seven regions.[17] No one party is allowed to hold more than 65 seats.[18][additional citation(s) needed] Party lists are required to have at least 30% of the candidates from each gender, and every fourth candidate had to be of a different gender. Each list is also required to have at least 15% of the candidates being from ethnic minorities and 15% of under 35 years old, as well as at least two candidates with disabilities.[18][19]
In addition, parliament abolished the use of Form No. 2, which allowed Kyrgyz voters to register to cast their ballots outside of their official home districts. The system was intended to allow migrant workers to vote where they worked, but after record numbers of this type of ballot were cast in the previous, annulled election, it was thought that the forms were abused to manipulate vote totals in the different regions.[2]
Parties admitted to the elections[edit]
21 parties were admitted to the elections[20][21]
References[edit]
- ^ "Parliamentary elections may be set for Oct 31 or Nov 7 in Kyrgyzstan".
- ^ a b c Putz, Catherine (22 October 2020). "Kyrgyzstan Punts on Elections to Pursue Constitutional Reforms". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ "ЦИК Кыргызстана назначил повторные парламентские выборы на 20 декабря". inbusiness.kz (in Russian). 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
- ^ "В Киргизии отложили повторные выборы в парламент". Interfax.ru (in Russian). 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
- ^ "Повторные парламентские выборы в Киргизии пройдут до марта". Interfax.ru (in Russian). 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
- ^ "Kyrgyzstan election: Sadyr Japarov wins presidency with landslide". BBC News. 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ "Президент КР Садыр Жапаров: Между Казахстаном и Кыргызстаном нет неразрешимых вопросов". www.inform.kz (in Russian). 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ Putz, Catherine (2021-03-03). "Kyrgyzstan Tumbles in Freedom of the World Ranking". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
- ^ Wood, Colleen (2021-05-08). "Kyrgyzstan's Worrying New Limits on Dissent". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
- ^ "Countries & Regions". Freedom House. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
- ^ Putz, Catherine (2021-03-09). "Kyrgyzstan Expected to Greenlight Controversial Constitutional Referendum". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ "Kyrgyzstan voters back presidential rule in referendum". www.aljazeera.com. 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ a b "Kyrgyzstan: President signs new constitution into law | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
- ^ "HRW Says Proposed Legal Changes Threaten Freedoms In Kyrgyzstan". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
- ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Proposed Legal Changes Threaten Political Dissent". Human Rights Watch. 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
- ^ "Kyrgyz President Signs Bill on Changes to Electoral Law".
- ^ Kyrgyz Republic: Election for Jorgorku Keneshg (Kyrgyz Supreme Council) IFES
- ^ a b Electoral system IPU
- ^ THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW On Presidential and Jogorku Kenesh Elections in the Kyrgyz Republic
- ^ https://rus.azattyk.org/a/31535060.html Выборы-2021. В Кыргызстане стартовала агитационная кампания
- ^ https://shailoo.gov.kg/ru/news/5752/ 21 политическая партия зарегистрирована на выборы депутатов Жогорку Кенеша Кыргызской Республики.
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