Expert Shestakov names specificities of upcoming parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan

The political struggle has become intriguing against the backdrop of the non-participation of the pro-presidential party.

The parliamentary elections In Kyrgyzstan will start in less than two weeks. Earlier, the CentralAsia.news editorial office marked the specificity of the pre-election race. The once-powerful SDPK does not take part in the political event. Moreover, as a part of an interview for the editorial office, co-chairman of the Club of regional experts of Kyrgyzstan «Pikir» Igor Shestakov drew attention to another interesting point, and also gave his assessment of the political process, being in the thick of events.

The most unusual elections

According to the interviewee, the upcoming parliamentary elections can be considered the most unusual ones in the history of an independent republic. The first confirmation of it is the preparation for the event amid an unstable epidemiological situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

— For example, the party congresses, where the election lists were approved, took place literally a few days before the submission of documents for registration in the CEC, since the second wave of the pandemic started to decline significantly only by mid-August, — said the expert.

Even the bulk of the party congresses were held not in the halls, but on the street, and even with the observance of social distance. Besides, the way of interacting with the electorate has changed significantly. It was more about online communication.

— In previous years, parties mainly arranged pre-election events around mass gatherings of the electorate at the country’s stadiums, with mandatory concert programs. Now, meetings with the electorate are going on, but very modestly. The focus is made on the advertisement in the media and party debates on TV, — commented the expert.

The second specificity is related to SDPK, or rather, to its non-participation. Since 2005, it is the first time when a pro-presidential or a political organization related to the head of the state has not taken part in the struggle for mandates.

Shestakov reminded that Askar Akaev, Kurmanbek Bakiev, and Almazbek Atambayev got most of the seats in the political organization. Under each leader, most of the seats went to his political organization. The expert noted that the leading position of the pro-presidential parties was directly related to the administrative resource. The situation with the weakening of the SDPK’s positions and the loss of political power is not a phenomenon. After Akayev and Bakiev fled, their parties began to fall apart. Atambayev did not leave the state, but he is in the prison, so the fate of SDPK is forecasted.

The co-chairman of the Club believes that Jeenbekov, who previously ran for the presidency from the SDPK, took into account the fate of the pro-presidential parties. Being a leader, he clearly showed that he was not interested in party activities. The President is not going to bind himself to any political organization. And that is also demonstrated by the current election campaign. Jeenbekov focuses on an honest fight rather than on parties.

Contenders and their chances

The fact that the pro-presidential party doesn’t take part in the parliamentary elections makes the struggle for seats exciting and intriguing. The expert noted that the pandemic did not stop those who wish to participate in the elections. The number of participating parties is 16, and five years ago there were 14 of them.

— Among the main contenders is the Birimdik party, which took part in the elections only once. The experts assess its chances quite high, it included a group of politicians from the parliamentary fraction of the SDPK, as well as several other fractions of the Jogorku Kenesh, — said the interviewee.

The party wants to realize a Eurasian course in Kyrgyzstan, supports the president and promises «democratic socialism.»

Another front-runner is the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party. It is headed by well-known brothers: Iskender and Raim Matraimov. The party stands for the fight against corruption and the shadow economy. Its image is slightly harmed by the scandals related to Raim Matraimov. He held senior positions in the Customs Service and was unofficially accused of corruption and malfeasance. Although the security officials admitted his innocence, the electorate still remembers it.

The Kyrgyzstan party also has a chance to get seats in parliament.

Among those who will be able to overcome the 7% pre-election barrier in the media are the veteran parties of election campaigns, which are also represented in the still acting parliament: Ata Meken, Respublika, as well as Bir Bol, which has completely renewed its membership.

As for the SDPK, it was «reformatted» by Atambayev’s son by removing the letter «P». But the real chances of receiving serious support from the electorate for this party are small.

Programs, calls and coronavirus

The pandemic affected not only the dialogue with the population. The programs of almost all political parties are full of promises to improve the health sector. Many officials promise to solve housing problems at the expense of the state.

The most interesting promise is made by the «Republic» party. Its members propose to remove the position of the president.

— Considering the peculiarities of the current campaign, it is worth highlighting the messages in social networks to vote against everyone, such activity was not noticed in the previous elections, — said the interviewee.

According to Shestakov, the reason for such calls is the weak work of the current parliament. Besides, the idea that having 120 deputies is too much for Kyrgyzstan started to get popular on social networks. It says that 60, or even 30 parliamentarians are enough. At the same time, the idea proposed to make the officials single-mandate members. In other words, there has to be someone responsible for the situation in the district.

— In this regard, the expert community forecasted that the parliamentary elections may become a start for carrying out fundamental reforms in the system of public administration and the parliamentary mechanisms of government, — concluded the expert.

29 09 2020, 15:39
Photo source: pikir-klub.kg

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