KYRGYZ INTERIM GOVERNMENT OFFERS OTUNBAEVA AS PRESIDENT DURING TRANSITIONAL PERIOD
The Kyrgyz Interim Government has appointed Roza Otunbaeva as a transitional President for a 1.5-year term to ensure stability in the country and provide free and fair parliamentary elections in October this year. However, the appointment has to be approved in an upcoming referendum. If approved, the country will have a legitimate state institution; otherwise, it will face an even more serious political crisis.
On May 19, Kyrgyzstan’s Interim Government issued a special decree on the appointment of its head, Roza Otunbaeva, as President during the transitional period until December 31, 2011. According to the document, Otunbaeva will also fulfill the responsibilities of Prime Minister until the new head of government is approved by the new parliament. The parliamentary election is scheduled for October 10, 2010, followed by the presidential election one year later.
However, the appointment has to be approved at the nationwide constitutional referendum to be held in late June. The question of Otunbaeva’s candidacy, with no alternative candidates offered, is included as an additional provision in the draft constitution. It signifies that a disapproval of the draft constitution in the referendum will automatically mean disapproval of Otunbaeva’s candidacy and vice-versa. The linkage between these two issues may expose greater risks for the authorities, political analysts claim.
The decree stipulates that the transitional president will fulfill his or her duties according to the current constitution until the first session of the newly-elected parliament is held; at that time the new constitution will take effect. After parliament approves the new Prime Minister, Otunbaeva is to fulfill only the presidential duties, whose powers will be significantly cut in the main legal document. Moreover, the transitional president, as head of the only legitimate institution in the country, is responsible for providing free and fair elections; thus, her neutrality is a requirement according to the decree. Roza Otunbaeva announced her resignation from the Social Democratic Party last week.
As the document states, Roza Otunbaeva has no right to run for president in the 2011 presidential election. Omurbek Tekebaev, Deputy Head of the Interim Government, praised Otunbaeva’s decision: “She is sacrificing her political future for the sake of stability in the country and a smooth transition to a truly democratic state. It is a historic act”, Tekebaev concluded.
Before heading the Interim Government, Otunbaeva led the parliamentary opposition group of the Social Democrats in a Parliament dominated by the pro-governmental party. She was one of the key players during the 2005 Tulip Revolution, which brought her to the post of Foreign Minister for a short term. After the 2005 presidential election, her candidacy was not confirmed by parliament, bringing Otunbaeva back to the ranks of the opposition. From the early 1990s to present, she has been the first Kyrgyz Foreign Minister, first Kyrgyz Ambassador to both the United States and the United Kingdom, and the United Nations mission deputy head to Georgia.
After the decree was signed, Roza Otunbaeva addressed the public, assuring the people that she would meet the expectations of Kyrgyz citizens and expressing her commitment to democratic principles. She emphasized security and stability in the country as her top priorities. Otunbaeva also promised salary increases for law enforcement bodies and military servicemen.
The necessity of legitimate leadership was dictated by continuous instability in the country, particularly in the southern region. On May 14, supporters of Bakiyev seized the administration buildings of Osh, Jalalabad and Batken oblasts, seeking to bring the ousted President back to power. Nevertheless, the Interim Government successfully averted violence by arresting the alleged organizers of these riots, the former head of the Presidential Administration, Usen Sydykov, and the leader of the pro-Bakiyev Party of Communists, Iskhak Masaliyev.
A few days later, inter-ethnic clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbek residents took place in Jalalabad, leaving three dead and more than 70 injured. In order to curb the escalation of this highly undesired scenario, the Interim Government imposed a curfew until June 1, 2010. However, despite the cessation of “street confrontation” between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks, the possibility of new conflicts is still high.
Many experts agree that in light of the instability in the country, the decision to appoint the transitional president was right and timely. According to political analyst Mars Sariev, the decree is the optimal alternative, since it will partially solve the issue of legitimacy for the current authorities. “The decision was agreed upon with special envoys of Russia and Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan. Right after signing the decree, Kazakhstan opened its borders”, he stated.
Others claim that this decision will undermine democratic principles. The presidential appointment by the Interim Government, subjecting Otunbaeva’s candidacy to a referendum with no alternatives, directly undermines democratic electoral principles. Experts warn that it will eventually lead to questioning the President’s legitimacy.
