Democracy News

Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Atambayev Set to Become Next President
October 31, 2011
By: Mark Hsen | Printer Friendly

Former Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev is set to become Kyrgyzstan's next president after winning the country’s October 30 election.  With 63 percent of the vote, Atambayev passed the 50 percent threshold, thereby allowing him to bypass a potentially contentious second round.  The election had a turnout rate of 60 percent, with a field of 16 candidates.  Atambayev's inauguration will mark Kyrgyzstan's and former Soviet Central Asia's first peaceful and voluntary transfer of power.

According to Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), the election was Kyrgyzstan's first presidential election since the overthrow of then-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April 2010.  Since last year, Kyrgyzstan has suffered deadly ethnic conflict in the south.  As reported by the New York Times, fighting has been mostly between the Uzbek and Kyrgyz communities, leaving almost 500 people dead.

RFE/RL reports that while no major incidents of violence or protests occurred during the election, there were numerous reports of procedural flaws.  BBC News reports irregularities such as ballot-box stuffing, vote buying, and hundreds of registered voters left off voter rolls.  Election officials stated that the errors were not enough to substantially affect the outcome of the vote.

International observers such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) gave their cautious approval, but acknowledged the flaws.  Walburga Habsburg Douglas, head of the OSCE observation mission, called for improvements in the integrity of future votes.  According to RFE/RL, this is a step back for Kyrgyzstan, which was given a solid assessment following parliamentary elections last year.   

Atambayev's two main competitors have not yet conceded defeat.  Adakhan Madumarov, former parliament speaker, and Kamchibek Tashiyev, head of the Ata-Jurt party, both received 14 percent of the vote.  Both have complained that the vote was flawed.  Madumarov has called for the vote to be annulled and for an investigative commission.      

Almazbek Atambayev is the current prime minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party under the interim government of Roza Otunbayeva.  He began his career in politics as a Communist party activist in the 1980s, when Kyrgyzstan was a Soviet Republic.  After turning to business, Atambayev returned to politics as a member of parliament, then Minister for Trade and Industry.  He was briefly the Prime Minister under Kurmanbek Bakiyev, but joined the opposition movement which ousted Bakiyev. 

Atambayev has stated that his goal is to unify the country.  He claimed that he would jail those responsible for stirring up ethnic and regional divisions.  In addition, he plans to continue the reforms started by the Otunbayeva interim administration.  According to Reuters, his reforms will reduce executive authority and allow Parliament to become Kyrgyzstan's main decision-making body.  Atambayev has also stated that he will close the United States airbase located in the Manas airport.  While Atambayev is backed by Moscow, he claims Russia, which also maintains a military base in Kyrgyzstan, has not pressured him to shut down the US base, but cited security reasons instead.

For previous news on Kyrgyzstan, please see:
Five Parties Win Seats in Kyrgyz Parliamentary Election

Sources:
Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty – Atambaev Poised To Become Next Kyrgyz President

BBC News – New Kyrgyz leader Almazbek Atambayev in unity pledge

Reuters – Kyrgyz PM claims election victory as rivals rally

New York Times – Hopes for Peace as Kyrgyzstan Votes for New President

BBC News – Kyrgyzstan elections: Presidential front-runners