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FACTBOX-Kyrgyzstan's new parliament

by (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. Click For Restrictions. http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Tuesday, 30 November 2010 12:12 GMT

Nov 30 (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan leaders agreed on Tuesday to form a coalition government comprising three of the five parties that won seats in an Oct. 10 election aimed at creating the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia.

For a story: [nLDE6AT0M3]

Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet country that hosts Russian and U.S. military air bases, is trying to move out of almost 20 years of failed authoritarian rule in a region where the other four ex-Soviet states are run by presidential strongmen.

Below are some key facts about the new Kyrgyz parliament.

-- Under new rules, parliament will be the country's main decision-making body, assuming more power than the president.

-- The parliament held its first session on Nov. 10. The session was adjourned and has not yet formally resumed.

-- There is no majority faction in the 120-seat legislature. Three of the five parties that passed the entry threshold have formed a coalition government that together will have a majorty.

-- The coalition comprises the Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan and the Respublika and Ata Meken parties. They finished second, fourth and fifth respectively in the election.

-- Ata Zhurt, which polled the most votes in the election, and the third-placed Ar-Namys party declined to join a coalition. Both parties have said they are opposed to the parliamentary form of government.

-- The government must now elect a prime minister and speaker. If they fail to do so, the government will be given two more attempts before parliament is dissolved.

-- Almazbek Atambayev, leader of the Social Democrats, has been nominated as prime minister and Respublika leader Omurbek Babanov as his deputy. Ata Meken leader Omurbek Tekebayev has been nominated speaker.

-- Here is the list of parliamentary factions and the number of seats they hold in parliament:

PARTY SEATS PERCENTAGE OF VOTES

Ata Zhurt 28 8.47

Social Democrats 26 7.83

Ar-Namys 25 7.57

Respublika 23 6.93

Ata Meken 18 5.49

-- The nominee for prime minister will have to propose to parliament the programme, structure and members of the cabinet for approval.

-- Unlike in other ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, Kyrgyzstan's prime minister will be stronger than the president and have the right to appoint and dismiss cabinet ministers and governors.

-- The parliamentary opposition has the right to head parliamentary committees on the budget and law and order.

-- Roza Otunbayeva, who led the interim government that assumed power following the overthrow in April of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, will remain acting president until Dec. 31, 2011.

-- Future presidents will be limited to a single six-year term with greatly reduced powers, but will have the right to appoint the defence minister and national security service head.

-- Russia and the United States both operate military air bases in Kyrgyzstan, but have opposing views on its constitutional reform. Washington hails the idea of building a parliamentary republic but Moscow says that a weaker presidency could cast the nation into chaos with clan and ethnic fighting. (Compiled by Robin Paxton and Dmitry Solovyov; editing by David Stamp)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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