Felix Kulov, chairman of the Ar-Namys Party, is calling for a coalition government of the country’s leading political parties. Kulov urges the parties that won the October 10 parliamentary election to invite representatives of smaller parties that came close to meeting the 5 percent threshold to join this government as well.
The Ar-Namys Party supports creating a wide parliamentary coalition and “a government of public trust,” Kulov said, adding that this political structure will allow for effective state governance. Under his proposal, the new government would be composed of representatives from eight or nine political parties, including those that lost the parliamentary elections, as well as the election winners. All parties should also be allowed to nominate candidates for the post of the prime minister.
Ensuring rapid reconstruction of the country’s south, its normal functioning during the harsh winter months, extermination of corruption, an independent judiciary, and stable relations with neighboring states must be the priorities of the new government, Kulov said.
Once seated in the new parliament, the Ar-Namy Party will also insist on strengthening presidential powers.
A parliamentary democracy was overwhelmingly approved by Kyrgyz voters in the June referendum, which also endorsed Roza Otunbayeva as interim president until December 31, 2011. Presidential elections were set for October 2011.
However, Kulov maintains that it is premature to introduce a parliamentary form of government in Kyrgyzstan, as Kyrgyz society lacks the highly developed political culture necessary to make parliamentary democracy effective.
Under Kulov’s proposal, the Kyrgyz president will be responsible for managing the country’s domestic and foreign policies, guaranteeing independence of the judiciary, and ensuring political stability in the event of a parliamentary coalition failure.
Leaders of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) and the Respublica Party have already agreed to lay the foundation for a future coalition once the new Jogorku Kenesh is seated for its first session, the SDPK spokesman announced yesterday.
