Kyrgyz vote under high voltage for a parliamentary democracy

Written by Sandeep Nehra

The Kyrgyz participated in parliamentary elections, “historic” meant to mark the advent of the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia, but which are held under high tension after deadly violence in the country in recent months.

Preparations in a poll for the election, October 9, 2010 in Osh, Kyrgyzstan

“I am convinced that the elections take place peacefully. The vote will be transparent and troublemakers have no reason to engage in political hysteria,” he told reporters the president Acting Rosa Otunbayeva after slipping his ballot into the ballot box.

“This is a historic day for Kyrgyzstan,” said Otunbayeva placed at the head of the country until December 31, 2011.

The turnout reached 20.93% at 13.00, five hours after the opening of polling stations close at 8:00 p.m. (1400 GMT). The first results are expected Monday.

Ex-Soviet republic very poor, but located at a strategic point which is to host both Russian and U.S. military bases, this country of 5.3 million people has overturned in April, Kourbanbek President Bakiyev to power since 2005 .

A new constitution was adopted in June, which eliminates the presidential system in force in other countries in the region for the benefit of Parliament.

This reform has been hailed by the United States, but sharply criticized by Russia, whose President Dmitry Medvedev believes it fosters extremism and dislocation of the country.

Country’s most volatile region that has experienced two revolutions in five years, Kyrgyzstan just to stability and this election raises fears of new violence.

Otunbayeva said to have mobilized all available public and private structures to ensure the peaceful conduct of the vote.

His main opponent, Felix Kulov, a former general and prime minister who advocates a return to a presidential regime told the press that the problems were “not to worry if the election proceeded in an honest way.”

“I voted Kulov. We are now in a difficult situation, we need a military to restore order,” said Vladimir, 58, a taxi driver.

“No politician has done anything good for the country”, for his part said Assan, 43, a meat salesman who decided to boycott the legislative elections.

Opinion polls show at least six parties have a chance of passing the 5% needed for entry in this parliament of 120 seats two center-left parties supporting the interim government, the party Ata-Meken and the Social Democratic Party Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK).

“I am confident that the Kyrgyz parliament to form a government will come in first or in the worst case at the second attempt,” said Otunbayeva.

The president has the right to offer twice the composition of the government. If Parliament rejects, members must submit their proposal. If this attempt fails, the president must dissolve the Assembly.

Ar-Namys Felix Kulov, supported by Moscow and the Nationalist Party Ata-Jourt, fiercely opposed to the aspirations of the country’s ethnic minorities should be represented in the Assembly.

A breakthrough of Ata-Jourt let fear a return to violence in the South, where the Uzbek minority in places represents half the population. This ethnic group was the main victim of violence in June, which is between 400 and 2,000 deaths.

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