RPT-Kyrgyzstan referendum may boost president's powers
20 Oct 2007 22:10:06 GMT Source: Reuters
By Olga Dzyubenko BISHKEK, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan votes in a referendum on Sunday on constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's power in the volatile Central Asian state. Home to a U.S. and a Russian military airbase, the Muslim nation has been unstable since 2005 when veteran leader Askar Akayev was ousted and Bakiyev came to power. Ever since, Bakiyev has been at loggerheads with a parliament elected in a disputed poll under Akayev's rule. The proposed changes would boost Bakiyev's authority in picking key government officials and give him leeway in dissolving parliament. If they are passed, the Kyrgyz leader is widely expected to call an early parliamentary election. The amendments would also change the election process from a single-constituency system to a proportional all-party list, which should help Bakiyev gain a power base in the chamber through his newly formed Ak Zhol party. From Kyrgyzstan's mountainous border with China to the densely populated south, 2.7 million registered voters will cast their "yes" or "no" ballots from 6:00 a.m. (midnight GMT) to 8:00 p.m. (1400 GMT). Elected in 2005 in a vote judged free and fair by Western monitors, Bakiyev is regarded as a liberal among his authoritarian Central Asian neighbours. Many in Kyrgyzstan say that a stronger presidential hand would help bring more order and stability. "The referendum should have taken place a long time ago, in 2005," said Edil Baisalov, a liberal politician. "People are tired after two years." But Bakiyev, who says he came to power in a "people's revolution", is criticised for failing to stop political infighting and focus on urgent issues such as poverty and crime. Seeking to rally support ahead of the vote, Bakiyev opened a monument to commemorate the so-called Tulip Revolution in the southern city of Jalalabad. "This is a symbol of our people's victory in its struggle against tyranny," he said. Memories were fresh of the chaos in 2005 when a violent mob ransacked the presidential palace and forced Akayev, in power since Soviet times, to flee to Russia in what critics said was a coup rather than a peaceful revolt. The nation of 5 million was calm ahead of the referendum, although some people said they are disillusioned. "No one cares about people in this country. It's lawlessness that rules it," said Svetlana, a 36-year-old teacher from Bishkek. "But let's go and vote and see what happens."
