- Title: Kyrgyzstan readies for constitutional referendum, seen boosting president
- Date: 9th December 2016
- Summary: BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (DECEMBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENT SESSION UNDERWAY KYRGYZ CONSTITUTION BOOKLET ON TABLE VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS AT SESSION PARLIAMENT BUILDING KYRGYZ FLAG ABOVE PARLIAMENT BUILDING PEOPLE WALKING ALONG STREET NEAR PARLIAMENT BUILDING BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (DECEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) WOMAN LOOKING AT NEWSPAPERS ON DISPLAY AT STALL CLOSE OF NEWSPAPER READING (Russian): "11 DECEMBER - REFERENDUM / CHUY NEWS / WE WILL SAY 'YES!' TO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS" (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LOCAL RESIDENT, SANIYA AKHMAMETOVA, SAYING: "How to vote I have not yet determined, because there are many changes being introduced and to just so quickly say you are for or against all of it - this is tough. I have not made a decision. There needed to be a little more time given so that people could get prepared and become more closely familiar (with the proposed changes) and think of the consequences as well." CLOSE OF NEWSPAPER COVER ON REFERENDUM BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (DECEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) MAN HANDING OUT NEWSPAPER ON REFERENDUM TO PUBLIC (SOUNDBITE) (Kyrgyz) LOCAL RESIDENT, KUNDUZ BAKAKEYEVA, SAYING: "This is a very important event for the state. They are making amendments to the constitution so we will come and support the constitution." MAN HANDING REFERENDUM POSTER TO PUBLIC EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION NO. 1220 POSTER READING (Russian): "11 DECEMBER YEAR 2016 / DAY OF REFERENDUM (POPULAR VOTE) OF THE REPUBLIC OF KYRGYZSTAN" POLLING BOOTHS SET UP INSIDE STATION ELECTRONIC BALLOT BOXES POLLING STATION WORKERS SEATED AROUND TABLE AND LOOKING THROUGH PAPERS WORKER STAMPING DOCUMENT WORKER LOOKING AT POLLING BOOTH WORKER PUTTING DOCUMENT THROUGH ELECTRONIC BALLOT BOX (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) POLLING STATION NO. 1220 REPRESENTATIVE, GULNARA NIYAZOVA, SAYING: "Polling station 1220 is ready for the election. We have received the ballots today and the commission is operating." KANAT ISAEV OF THE KYRGYZSTAN PARTY SPEAKING ON THE PHONE CLOSE OF KYRGYZ AND ISAEV'S POLITICAL PARTY FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KYRGYZSTAN PARTY DEPUTY, KANAT ISAEV, SAYING: "The most important thing is that this constitution brought us to (better) balance between the branches of power. And the amendments, I see that they will, to a small extent - lead to a roll back from parliamentarianism. The powers of the parliament are cut in some aspects, they are limited. I think these changes will lead to a step back from parliamentarianism." BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (DECEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) POLITICAL EXPERTS HOLDING ROUNDTABLE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM POLITICAL ANALYST MARS SARIEV SPEAKING DURING ROUNDTABLE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) POLITICAL ANALYST, MARS SARIEV, SAYING: "It seems to me that everything is being done too quickly, in a rush. And of course it causes reasonable suspicions by the opposition that President (Almazbek) Atambayev after leaving his post as president wants to strengthen the executive branch, the post of the prime minister, the post of the president by weakening the parliament. There is such an opinion." CLOSE OF POSTER READING (Russian): "CLUB OF REGIONAL EXPERTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KYRGYZSTAN" BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (DECEMBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ABOUT IN THE CAPITAL
- Embargoed: 24th December 2016 15:09
- Keywords: Kyrgyzstan parliament referendum constitution vote prime minsiter's powers Almazbek Atambayev
- Location: BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN
- City: BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN
- Country: Kyrgyzstan
- Reuters ID: LVA0015C5VY9L
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The people of Kyrgyzstan are set head to the polls on Sunday (December 11) to vote on amendments to the constitution after a parliament decision to hold a referendum.
The vote on constitutional change would strengthen the powers of the prime minister, a move opponents say is aimed at getting President Almazbek Atambayev into the post when his term ends.
The Central Asian nation's constitution bars Atambayev from running for a second term when his mandate ends in 2017.
The former Soviet republic's parliament passed a bill setting the referendum which will need to be passed in two more readings to become law.
The referendum dominated newspaper headlines on Friday (December 9), but some voters say the yes-or-no vote has been rushed and there are too many proposed changes to allow for a firm decision.
"How to vote I have not yet determined, because there are many changes being introduced and to just so quickly say you are for or against all of it - this is tough. I have not made a decision. There needed to be a little more time given so that people could get prepared and become more closely familiar (with the proposed changes) and think of the consequences as well," said local resident, Saniya Akhmametova.
Polling stations around the country are at the ready, with booths and ballot boxes already set up for Sunday's vote.
Atambayev's Social Democratic party leads the ruling coalition in parliament.
The proposed constitutional amendments include provisions granting more powers to the cabinet and to leaders of parliamentary factions.
Kanat Isaev, a member of the Kyrgyzstan Party, says changing the constitution will be a step back for the country.
"The most important thing is that this constitution brought us to (better) balance between the branches of power. And the amendments, I see that they will, to a small extent - lead to a roll back from parliamentarianism. The powers of the parliament are cut in some aspects, they are limited. I think these changes will lead to a step step back from parliamentarianism," Isaev told Reuters Television.
Kyrgyzstan, an impoverished, mostly Muslim nation of 6 million, has been volatile in recent years. Violent protests in 2005 and 2010 toppled successive presidents. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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