Kyrgyz constitutional referendum, 2016

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A constitutional referendum was held in Kyrgyzstan on 11 December 2016. [1] The constitutional amendments were approved by around 80% of voters. [2]

Contents

Background

The post-independence constitution was introduced in 1993, with modifications made following referendums in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2007 and 2010. However, the current constitution prohibits any amendments being made until 2020. [3] The original version of the 2010 constitution has been lost. [4]

Proposed changes

The proposed changes to the constitution were put forward by five parties, and included increasing the powers of the Prime Minister and Supreme Council, as well as making reforms to the judicial system. [3] The proposed reforms also established that marriage could be only "between a man and a woman" instead of "between two persons"; this was criticized by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. [5]

Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan

The Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan is the head of government of Kyrgyzstan. Until 2010, the President was in a stronger position than the Prime Minister in Kyrgyzstan, but after the 2010 constitutional referendum, the state transitioned to a parliamentary system, placing greater power in parliament and the cabinet at the expense of the president.

Supreme Council (Kyrgyzstan) Kyrgyzstani parliament

The Supreme Council is the unicameral Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic. It has 120 seats with members elected for a five-year term by party-list proportional voting.

The Venice Commission is an advisory body of the Council of Europe, composed of independent experts in the field of constitutional law. It was created in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, at a time of urgent need for constitutional assistance in Central and Eastern Europe. The Commission's official name is the European Commission for Democracy through Law, but due to its meeting place in Venice, Italy, where sessions take place four times a year, it is usually referred to as the Venice Commission.

Conduct

There were some reports of alleged fraud. Some that political parties had resorted to vote buying and people told that they were offered 500 to 1,000 soms ($7 to $14) per vote. Speaking at a press conference, deputy Interior Minister Almaz Orozaliev reported five such cases (three in the Bishkek and two in the northern Chui region). [6]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For955,44779.59
Against184,81715.40
Invalid/blank votes60,1825.01
Total1,200,446100
Registered voters/turnout2,851,95242.09
Source: Shailoo

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The history of the Kyrgyz people and the land now called Kyrgyzstan goes back more than 2,000 years. Although geographically isolated by its mountainous location, it had an important role as part of the historical Silk Road trade route. In between periods of self-government it was ruled by Göktürks, the Uyghur Empire, and the Khitan people, before being conquered by the Mongols in the 13th century; subsequently it regained independence but was invaded by Kalmyks, Manchus and Uzbeks. In 1876 it became part of the Russian Empire, remaining in the USSR as the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic after the Russian Revolution. Following Mikhael Gorbachev's democratic reforms in the USSR, in 1990 pro-independence candidate Askar Akayev was elected president of the SSR. On 31 August 1991, Kyrgyzstan declared independence from Moscow, and a democratic government was subsequently established.

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References

  1. "Kyrgyzstan goes to referendum". 1 November 2016.
  2. Kyrgyzstan amends constitution in referendum, boosting government powers Reuters, 11 December 2016
  3. 1 2 "Kyrgyz Lawmakers Advance Bill For Referendum On Constitutional Amendments". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  4. "Kyrgyzstan has literally lost its constitution". The Independent. 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  5. Venice Commission (14–15 October 2016). "Kyrgyz Republic - Endorsed joint opinion on the draft law". Council of Europe.
  6. Kyrgyz Voters Back Amendments On Same-Sex Marriage, Presidential Power Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 11 December 2016