Two Kyrgyz ex-premiers, current head of govt, opposition leader submit supporters' signatures to central election commission
BISHKEK. Aug 11 (Interfax) - Four contenders for the post of Kyrgyz president have filed with the Central Election Commission (CEC) necessary signatures in support of their candidacies, the CEC told Interfax on Friday.
Ex-prime minister Temir Sariyev was the first one to submit signatures and is so far the only contender officially registered as a presidential candidate, a CEC representative said.
"Also, lists with citizens' signatures were submitted to the CEC by the leader of the opposition Ata-Meken (Motherland) opposition parliamentary faction, Omurbek Tekebayev, and the leader of another opposition parliamentary faction, Respublika-Ata-Zhurt (Fatherland), former prime minister Omurbek Babanov," the official said.
Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov also filed lists with 50,000 signatures with the CEC on Friday, he said. By law, a candidate must gather at least 30,000.
"Other contenders for the presidential post have until August 26 to submit citizens' signatures in their support, no signature lists will be accepted beyond that date, in accordance with the law," the Kyrgyz CEC representative said.
The deadline for official registration of presidential candidates is September 10, he said. To date, 51 candidates have announced their bid to run for president.
To register, they must complete a Kyrgyz language proficiency test, lodge an electoral deposit of around $15,000, and gather 30,000 voter signatures.
At the same time, the CEC has not ruled out that by the time the official registration is over, the number of candidates would drop, not least because of politicians uniting in favor of a single candidate.
The Kyrgyz presidential election is due on October 15. Kyrgyz experts reckon that the main fight for the presidency would be between Jeenbekov, who was nominated by the pro-presidential Social Democratic Party, and the two former premiers Sariyev and Babanov.
A Kyrgyz president is elected for one six-year term. The incumbent, Almazbek Atambayev, is not allowed to seek re-election.
