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| Constitution |
Snap parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Kyrgyzstan on 30 November 2025 to elect members of the Supreme Council, following the self-dissolution of parliament in September 2025. [1] The parliamentary elections were initially planned for November 2026 under the regular electoral calendar. [2]
The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan (Jogorku Kenesh), the country's unicameral parliament, was elected in November 2021 following the annulment of the 2020 parliamentary elections and the resignation of President Sooronbay Jeenbekov. These elections were the first conducted under constitutional amendments adopted earlier in 2021, which strengthened presidential powers and reduced parliamentary authority. The legislature consisted of 90 deputies, elected through a mixed-member majoritarian representation. [3]
In 2024, the government implemented major administrative-territorial reforms, redefining the boundaries of rural municipalities (aiyl aimaks) and cities, reorganizing local councils, and clarifying the competencies of local authorities. Observers noted that these reforms created a misalignment between parliamentary representation and the newly structured administrative units.
Speculation about early parliamentary elections began in early 2025. In February, Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu dismissed rumors of early voting, confirming that both parliamentary and presidential elections would follow their constitutionally scheduled dates. [4] [5] In April 2025, parliament approved a constitutional amendment moving the next presidential election to January 2027, separating it from the parliamentary elections originally scheduled for November 2026. [6] [7] Officials, including Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov, emphasized that no early elections were planned at that time. [8]
On 2 July 2025, President Sadyr Japarov made an unannounced working visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, ostensibly to discuss bilateral issues and migration concerns. That trip prompted speculation that Japarov may also have been seeking tacit support from Russia for early parliamentary elections, given forecasts that such elections could occur ahead of the 2026 schedule. [9] [10] Japarov publicly denied those claims, stating electoral timing is a purely internal matter. [11]
By mid-September 2025, a group of deputies initiated a proposal for early self-dissolution of the Supreme Council. The initiative reportedly began around 15 September 2025 and gathered the 32 signatures required to trigger parliamentary consideration, with Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu confirming receipt of the 32-deputy proposal and noted that its arguments were reasonable. The initiative group emphasized that holding the parliamentary elections alongside the presidential election in January 2027 would overburden the Central Election Commission and create logistical challenges. [12]
On 23 September 2025, the Committee on Constitutional Legislation, State Structure, Judicial and Legal Issues, and Rules of Procedure approved the proposal. By this time, debate over early dissolution had intensified. [13] Central Election Commission (CEC) chairman Tynchynbek Shainazarov stated that the CEC was technically prepared to administer early elections should parliament adopt a decision on self-dissolution, emphasizing that the proximity of the 2026–2027 electoral cycle could create overlap and legal disputes. [14]
The proposal generated debate among deputies. Alliance faction leader Janar Akayev supported early dissolution, citing electoral administration concerns and the need to align parliamentary representation with the restructured administrative units. [15] Other deputies, including Cholpon Sultanbekova, endorsed the measure to ensure the legislature reflected recent reforms. [15] Critics, such as Iskhak Masaliev, argued that the initiative could indicate presidential influence and risk the independence of parliament. [15]
On 24 September 2025, the 7th convocation of the Supreme Council unanimously voted to dissolve itself for the first time in Kyrgyzstan's history. Out of 90 registered deputies, 89 attended the session, and 84 voted in favor, with no opposition. [16] [17] Turgunbek uulu confirmed the deputies acted independently and that the parliament would retain its powers until the next convocation. According to law, the president must call early elections within five days. [18] On 30 September 2025, President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree setting the parliamentary elections for 30 November 2025, stating the decision was intended to maintain political stability, prevent overlap of electoral cycles, and provide the Central Election Commission adequate time to prepare, while assuring supervision of a fair and transparent vote. [19] [20]
Under 2025 amendments to Constitutional Law "On Elections of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and Deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh", Kyrgyzstan replaced its previous mixed electoral system with a new majoritarian representation framework. The Supreme Council will continue to consist of 90 deputies, but they will now be elected from 30 multi-member districts, each returning three representatives by plurality voting. This change abolished the earlier arrangement of electing deputies partly through open party-list proportional representation on a nationwide constituency and partly through single-member districts using first-past-the-post voting. [21] [22]
The reform was intended to simplify the voting process, harmonize parliamentary representation with ongoing administrative–territorial reforms, and reduce the disparity between deputies elected by party lists and those elected in electoral districts. Independent candidates may compete alongside party nominees, giving voters the option to choose either party-affiliated or non-party candidates within their district. [22]
In March 2025, the Central Election Commission (CEC) began the process of setting the boundaries based on proposals from local authorities, with constituencies averaging around 140,000 voters. If a deputy's mandate becomes vacant, the seat is filled by the candidate with the next highest number of votes in that constituency. [23]
On 1 October 2025, the CEC approved the schemes and boundaries of the constituencies for the 2025 parliamentary elections as follows: [24] [25]
| Region | Number of constituencies | Seats | Main constituency centers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batken Region | 3 | 9 | Razzakov, Kadamjai, Kyzyl-Kiya |
| Osh Region and Osh | 7 | 21 | Nookat, Aravan, Osh, Kara-Suu, Gulcho, Uzgen, Kara-Kulja |
| Jalal-Abad Region | 5 | 15 | Manas, Suzak, Masy, Toktogul, Kerben |
| Talas Region | 2 | 6 | Talas, Kara-Balta |
| Chui Region and Bishkek | 7 | 21 | Bishkek (No. 21–24), Lebedinovka, Kant, Tokmak |
| Issyk-Kul and Naryn Region | 6 | 18 | Cholpon-Ata, Kyzyl-Suu, Kochkor, Naryn |
| Total | 30 | 90 | — |
The table below presents the political party factions represented in the 7th convocation of the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan before its dissolution. [26]
| Name | Ideology | Position | Leader(s) | 2021 result | Seats at dissolution | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes (%) | Seats | |||||||
| AJK | Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan | Kyrgyz nationalism | Right-wing | Aibek Matkerimov | 19.07% | 15 / 90 | 20 / 90 | |
| Mekenchil | Mekenchil | Liberalism | Right-wing | Kamchybek Tashiev | DNP | 16 / 90 | ||
| Ishenim | Ishenim | Communitarianism | Centre-right | Azamat Doroyev | 15.03% | 12 / 90 | 12 / 90 | |
| Yntymak | Yntymak | Social conservatism | Centre-right | Chingis Makeshov | 12.13% | 9 / 90 | 9 / 90 | |
| Alliance | Alliance | Populism | Centre to centre-left | Mirlan Jeenchoroyev | 9.19% | 8 / 90 | 9 / 90 | |
| BK | United Kyrgyzstan | National conservatism | Centre-right to right-wing | Adakhan Madumarov | 7.77% | 5 / 90 | 5 / 90 | |
| YN | Light of Faith | Islamic democracy | Centre-right | Nurzhigit Kadyrbekov | 6.78% | 5 / 90 | 5 / 90 | |
| SD | Social Democrats | Social democracy | Centre-left | Temirlan Sultanbekov | 3.51% | 1 / 90 | 1 / 90 | |
On 30 September 2025, after the decree of President Sadyr Japarov setting the date for early elections, the Central Election Commission approved the Calendar Plan for the organization and conduct of the early elections of deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, as follows: [27]
| Timeline of the 2025 Kyrgyz parliamentary election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 29 September 2025, the Central Election Commission reported that 4,237,000 citizens were registered as eligible voters in the Kyrgyz Republic. According to Deputy Chairperson Aidana Zhupueva, the distribution of the electorate will be carried out across 30 constituencies, each comprising on average about 140,000 voters, with a permitted deviation of up to 20%. [28]
Since 2015, Kyrgyzstan has been among the first states in the region to introduce digital technologies into the electoral process. That year, biometric identification of voters and automatic ballot boxes were implemented, with more than 700 international observers following the process. In 2025, the CEC announced the use of a new "5-in-1" technological complex, developed in cooperation with suppliers from South Korea. The system combines biometric identification by passports, video surveillance in polling stations, and automated processing of data. Officials emphasized that this system reduces costs, accelerates voter identification, and increases transparency of elections.
Amendments to the Kyrgyz electoral law, introduced the mechanism of online identification for remote voting. Under this system, citizens may vote at a polling station outside their home district, with their ballot being counted in the constituency of permanent registration. The reform was presented as a measure to facilitate participation of internal migrants and Kyrgyz citizens temporarily or permanently abroad. In September 2025, the CEC carried out pilot testing of the system in Batken Region and reported that it had functioned successfully. [29]
Under the same amendments, requirements for parliamentary candidates were tightened. Candidates for the Supreme Council must demonstrate knowledge of the Kyrgyz language, although the precise level of proficiency and certification procedures are still to be defined by the government. Citizens with criminal records that were annulled through statute of limitations, reconciliation of the parties, or restitution of damages remain ineligible to run. [30]
In addition, the electoral deposit for candidates was raised to 300,000 soms, while the maximum campaign fund for party lists was increased to 20 million soms. [31] The CEC reiterated that in multi-member constituencies, each voter may support only one candidate, a principle summarized as "one voter — one candidate — one vote". [32] The Commission has also issued warnings against vote buying, controlled voting, and fraudulent agitators, noting that law enforcement bodies cooperate by monitoring campaign activities to safeguard public order. [31]
| Presidential elections | |
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| Parliamentary elections | |
| Local elections | |
| Referendums | |
