2007 Kyrgyz parliamentary election

Early parliamentary elections were held in Kyrgyzstan on 16 December 2007. The election was called by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev after the constitutional referendum on 21 October 2007 approved a new electoral system and constitutional reform proposals, enlarging the parliament to 90 MPs and introducing party-list voting.[1]

2007 Kyrgyz parliamentary election
16 December 2007
All 90 seats to the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan
46 seats needed for a majority
Turnout71.93%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Igor Chudinov Roza Otunbayeva Iskhak Masaliyev
Party Ak Jol SDPK KKP
Seats won 71 11 8
Popular vote 1,245,331 188,585 140,258
Percentage 61.73% 9.35% 6.95%
Prime Minister before election

Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev
Independent

 Elected Prime Minister

Igor Chudinov
Ak Jol

Campaign

Twenty-two parties filed to run in the election, but some reconsidered and six were rejected by the authorities, including Taza Koom ("Clean Society"). Thus the following parties contested the election:[2]

Controversy

On 28 November 2007, Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev from the Social Democratic Party resigned and Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev became Acting Prime Minister until the election; the resignation was reportedly over differences between Atayev and Bakiyev.[3]

To enter parliament, a party had to pass two thresholds:

  • Obtain at least 5% of the vote nationwide
  • Obtain at least 13,500 in each of the country's seven regions and its two cities (Bishkek and Osh)

Results

According to preliminary results based on 81% of the polling stations, turnout was over 60%, but no party apart from Ak-Zhol had managed to pass both thresholds. Ak-Zhol reportedly received 47.8% of the vote. Ata-Meken received 9.3% of the vote nationwide, but failed the regional thresholds in three regions. Ak-Zhol therefore appeared to be the only party to enter parliament. International monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe heavily criticised the election.[4] Monitors from the Commonwealth of independent States, however, claimed the election met democratic standards.[5] Later results showed that two other parties, the Social Democratic Party and the Communist Party, narrowly managed to pass the national threshold.

The Supreme Court overturned the second, regional threshold two days after the vote (thus potentially broadening parliamentary representation from three to four different parties).[6] Final results are expected to be announced on by the end of December.[7]

According to the central electoral commission, Ak-Zhol received 71 seats, the Social Democratic Party received 11 seats and the Communist Party received 8 seats. It is unclear whether the CEC is ignoring or reinterpreting the Supreme Court ruling which would entitle the Ata-Meken party to seats despite failing to win at least 0.5% of the vote in all seven regions and two cities. The newly elected parliament convened on 21 December 2007 for the first time[8] and will have to confirm a new government before 1 January 2008.[9]

According to officials, Ata-Meken failed to gain the necessary votes in Osh, yet party activists claimed to have proof of having attained more than the necessary votes.[10]

Party Votes % Seats
Ak Jol1,245,33161.7371
Ata Meken228,12511.310
Social Democratic Party188,5859.3511
Party of Communists 140,2586.958
Turan55,6282.760
Ar-Namys44,0482.180
Erkin Kyrgyzstan28,3151.400
Erkindik25,7531.280
Asaba23,4591.160
Aalam13,5030.670
Glas Naroda12,0740.600
Novaya Sila5,8230.290
Against all6,4810.32–
Invalid/blank votes––
Total2,017,38310090
Registered voters/turnout–
Source: OCSE
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References
  1. "'Many violations' in Kyrgyz vote", BBC News, 23 October 2007.
  2. Bruce Pannier, "Kyrgyzstan: Field Narrowed Ahead Of Campaigning For National Elections", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 26 November 2007.
  3. "Spokesman: Kyrgyz president accepts resignation of PM", Xinhua, 28 November 2007.
  4. "Kyrgyz leader's poll win criticised", BBC News, 17 December 2007.
  5. "Kyrgyzstan: Amid Protests, Ruling Party Seen Winning Elections In Landslide", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 17 December 2007.
  6. "Kyrgyz court revokes poll ruling", BBC News, 18 December 2007.
  7. Bruce Pannier, "Kyrgyzstan: Election Hurdle Still Standing Despite Court Ruling", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 18 December 2007.
  8. Natalia Antelava, "Kyrgyz MPs meet amid controversy", BBC News, 21 December 2007.
  9. Bruce Pannier, "Kyrgyzstan: Opposition Mounts Rallies, Hunger Strikes Over Vote Results", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 20 December 2007.
  10. "Kyrgyz opposition wins no seats", BBC News, 20 December 2007.
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