16 Oct 2020 10:16

New Kyrgyz PM assumes presidential powers

BISHKEK. Oct 16 (Interfax) - The powers of the president of Kyrgyzstan have been transferred to Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov, parliamentarian Omurbek Tekebayev said at a Kyrgyz parliament session on Friday.

"The powers of the president of Kyrgyzstan go to Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov. This is the first time in history that one person simultaneously holds the duties of the president, the prime minister, and parliament," Tekebayev said.

"The people expect you to live up to their expectations. Conditions need to be created first before reforms can be implemented. If nothing is done over the next 100 days, nothing will be done after that," Tekebayev said addressing Japarov, who is also present at the session.

Elections have been the main cause of all political crises in Kyrgyzstan, he said.

"I propose decreasing the electoral threshold for political parties to 5%. Also, I propose holding the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day," he said.

The Constitution bars the acting president from running in elections, Tekebayev said.

"This is fair. Will the people trust the elections to be honest if he runs in them? If your inner circle doesn't run in them, good conditions will be put in place for honest elections," Tekebayev told Japarov.

Incumbent President Sooronbai Jeenbekov confirmed to MPs earlier in the day that he is resigning. In accordance with the Constitution, Parliament Speaker Kanat Isayev was supposed to temporarily assume the presidential powers, but he refused to do so.

Kyrgyz Central Elections Commission Chairperson Nurjan Shaildabekova, in turn, told reporters that a repeated parliamentary election is expected to take place on December 20, and an early presidential election on January 17.

The ongoing political crisis in Kyrgyzstan was triggered by protests of people discontent with the outcome of the October 4 parliamentary election in the country.