Parliament of Kyrgyzstan. Depart this life?

Parliamentary government in Kyrgyzstan - political and legal hoax?

Only a lazy person does not speak well about the current convocation of Parliament. An active campaign for the dissolution of Parliament began in social networks. As its initiator Aziz Abakirov, Unique Technologies Company’s director, confessed to 24.kg news agency, he did not expect that his abandoned idea would meet a response in the Network. “The work of Parliament was a prerequisite for this step: first, adoption of anti-economic laws and decisions aimed at the destruction of business, the pursuit of narrow mercenary interests. Documents approved by our people’s deputies deprive the domestic economy of entire industries. But economy is a foundation of the state,” he said. He added that the deputies adopting bills important for the country’s development do not ask the views of business. “It is inadmissible. Honestly, I have a feeling that the current convocation is not simply unprofessional, but inadequate,” Aziz Abakirov said.

It is time to pick stones?

As it turned out, deputies are also active users of the Internet. Of course, they got acquainted with uncomplimentary opinions about them. “We should clearly define who and what does. But we suffer for someone else’s mistakes. We must specifically describe the powers of Parliament, Government and President in the Constitution so that the people know who and for what is responsible. For example, they accuse us that we made such an unpopular government structure. But it was designed not by deputies, but by the Prime Minister,” people’s deputy Narynbek Moldobaev said.

Analysts see disruption of control in all current political structure. It so happened that when writing the Constitution, his “father” Omurbek Tekebayev and a group of authors trying to minimize the role of president gave him the amount of functions and powers different from the institution of the presidency in the classical parliamentary republics.

“Seeds” of self-destruction of the parliamentary form of government were planted in the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan. Primarily this is due to the diminution and humiliation of the Institute of the President elected by popular vote, and this, as we know from experience can provoke further confrontation and opposition of the formal powers of the President and Parliament, complicate their interactions. The authorities can get involved in pointless bickering on the principle “who are you?”. In this case the stability of the constitutional system of government will largely depend on the effectiveness of Parliament, because now people associate it with the power of a legislative body,” expert in constitutional law Murat Ukushev noted.

Endless showdowns are simply annoying. Now it is clear that a political situation on the “island of democracy” will only worsen, primarily due to the poor state of the economy and social sector. Servants of the people will have to bear responsibility.

“A political responsibility means the dissolution of Parliament or voluntary dissolution. Generally, this year can become a decisive for the fifth convocation. Therefore, Parliament needs to monitor any changes in political attitudes of society and to anticipate their actions and proposals to improve and enhance its effectiveness,” political scientist Marat Kazakpaev expressed his opinion.

Not only by a party

Analysts linked incapacity of Parliament with the transition to the formation of Parliament according to party lists. “A gradual alienation of MPs from voters became remarkable. Today the majority of voters are unhappy that they see them only on TV. Earlier, when Parliament was formed according to the single-seat territorial district, communication with the voters was closer. Now deputy factions of political parties should develop and put into practice new approaches and methods of working with voters by focusing on party component in the relationship with the voters,” Murat Ukushev thinks.

Kyrgyzstan has the contours of a multiparty system. The role of political parties is very different from what it was 7-8 years ago. Judge by yourself: at the moment over 130 political parties are registered. The parliamentary elections of October 2010 were attended by two dozens parties and five parties overcame qualification and formed Parliament. But at the same time, we are still very far from transformation of parties into the most important institution of civil society, providing its interaction with the state. We need to improve a political system, to continue building a real multi-party system through the creation of authoritative mass national political parties.

Currently, the vast majority of political organizations registered in the Ministry of Justice exists only on paper. 8-10 parties show themselves more or less actively. And virtually all existing parties have pure capital nature, they are hardly visible in the regions. This applies to parliamentary parties.

But most importantly - is that today’s parties do not reflect the actual social structure of society, have no clear ideological orientations. People know almost nothing about the party programs. They vote not for parties and their programs, but for their leaders. As a result, citizens are deprived of the opportunity to influence the activities of people’s servants.

Will for a free person

“In fact, the current convocation only hinders Atambayev. The legislators do not allow the head of the country to implement his national program, since procedures for management are not clearly prescribed. For example, who forms a foreign policy? Parliament or the President? If Parliament, then where is an appropriate decision-making in this area? Now the republic needs a sane legislature,” Marat Kazakpaev said.

We want to remind the remarks of President Atambayev, who said during his visit to Turkey that Kyrgyzstan had presidential-parliamentary form of government. He hinted thereby, that one must take it into consideration his opinion, and the role of “English Queen” is not for him.

It is not a secret that deputies are afraid of dissolution. Much will depend on will of the President, who can initiate disbandment of Parliament. However, whether he needed it? At least for now - no. Now Parliament is puppet and quite loyal to the head of state. But no one can guarantee that the situation will change, and Atambayev will not organize new parliamentary elections. But the opposition is waiting for this to regain lost positions of power.

As expert Valentin Bogatyrev predicts, a government crisis will catch Kyrgyzstan. Then Parliament will put a question of the Cabinet resignation point-blank. And here the President has the right to choose.

Analysts say, if Atambayev has enough political will, he will send the current legislators in a so-called sabbatical leave and will announce his return to the Constitution of 1993. “Then he will strengthen his power, will show who’s boss, and get rid of incompetent Parliament,” Marat Kazakpaev said.

Show you teeth

Own sources in Parliament told 24.kg news agency that in March the Ata-Zhurt faction will raise the issue of dissolution. “Enough forces displeased by Parliament will concentrate in the south by this time. They are especially dissatisfied by the fact that almost all northern SDPK party snatched control of Parliament,” sources note.

Offence at a new power and desire for revenge makes Ata-Zhurt to negotiate with the opposition outside Parliament. Meetings with opposition leaders, who once lost their portfolios, are held behind the scenes.

By the way discontent with the policies of fractions is brewing inside Parliament. In particular, their leaders who want all to “dance after their pipe”. Some deputies think over the options for establishment of an independent unit, which will unite all “sensible people” regardless of party affiliation. Negotiations are in full swing, and soon the public will see another movement or block with code named “For reforms!”.

However, the same sources affirm that social democrats may also advance the initiative of dissolution. “Of course, Ata-Zhurt will not support them, as they are in opposition. A different thing – coalition faction. But here again everything depends on their leader. If Mr Atambayev gives an order to “knock down” Parliament, SDPK faction members will draw up and exert pressure on colleagues in the alliance and Parliament will be departed from life,” the sources stressed.