“My task is to preserve what has been achieved, to strengthen what has been started,”
New Elected President Sooronbai Jeenbekov
According to the central election commission of Kyrgyzstan former Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov secured 54.23 percent votes and won the Presidential Election 2017. His opponent Omurbek Babanov achieved 33.47 percent of the votes.
Fifty-nine candidates were registered, 11 from political parties and 48 self-nominated. According to preliminary data, only 1.668 million (55.93%) voters took part in the presidential elections. In total, in the republic there are 3 million 25 thousand registered voters. Eleven presidential candidates were standing for election giving voters a wide choice and all 11 rigorously participated in the election.
The Presidential 2017 election was the second one since adoption of the current Constitution in 2010, under which the incumbent president cannot stand for re-election. The latest amendments to the Constitution were initiated in 2016 by members of parliament (MPs), including from the ruling Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK). The proposed amendments were eventually adopted through a referendum in December 2016.
Earlier it was feared about the possibility of a second round in these elections but as Jeenbekov received over 55 percent of the votes cast, it made a run-off unnecessary. More than 900 thousand voters from those who took part in the elections voted for him.
The attitude of voters promoted “political pluralism” and a “substitute” for real electoral competition during the election. It was apparent several weeks ahead of polling day that the election would essentially be a contest between Jeenbekov, the candidate from the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) who had the support of incumbent President Almazbek Atambaev, and Omurbek Babanov the multimillionaire leader of the Respublika party.
Kyrgyzstan has a unique political system totally different from all the CIS and South Caucasus countries and has an ideal combination of Parliamentary-Presidential features in its existing political system. The President is elected through direct vote as in so many advanced democracies in the world. It also has a very effective system of checks & balances and separation of powers due to which there is no incidence of over-lapping among the different organs of the state which is good for the further politicization and democratization process of the country. There is constitutional bar on every Kyrgyzstan president not to exceed his term more than one which shows maturity of its political system and strength of democratic spirit.
According to its constitution the president is elected for a single six-year term by direct universal suffrage. A candidate who receives more than one half of the votes cast in the first round is declared elected. If no candidate receives the required majority, a runoff takes place between the two candidates with the most votes.
Kyrgyzstan has the most independent media among the CIS which ensures every political transition free and fair according the any international standard. Its Central Election Commission is a constitutional body which maintains its complete impartiality in the operationalization and channelization of the election process in the country. Every presidential candidate has equal right to disseminate his political manifestation on mass media which is the essence of modern democracy.
Presidential Candidate’s Public Support
The above diagram clearly shows that Kyrgyzstan’s voters supported former Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov by a majority which did not necessitate a second round. Voters preferred continuity of the socio-economic policies and rejected any dramatic change in their political system.
Observers from 50 countries monitored Kyrgyzstan’s presidential elections. A total of 315 international observers from 43 countries were granted accreditation, including 295 long-term and short-term observers deployed by the OSCE/ODIHR, 37 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, 23 from PACE and 11 from the EP. A number of international organizations also sent their observers to the elections. These included the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organizations, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, etc.
According to OSCE International Election Observation Commission, the presidential election was free & fair conducted on international standards of universal suffrage. It further strengthened democratic institutions by providing an orderly transfer of power from one elected president to another. Presidential election 2017 was competitive, as voters had a wide choice and candidates could, in general, campaign freely. The technical aspects of the election were well-administered.
Voting was orderly and well organized in the large majority of polling stations. Technical aspects of the election were well-organized by the CEC, 54 Territorial Election Commissions (TECs), and 2,375 Precinct Election Commissions (PECs) played very important role in electioneering. Voter age is 18 years but any criminal cannot vote for any candidate.
Every participating candidate managed to campaign freely. Several candidates and their regional structures mounted active campaigns throughout the country, using a variety of campaign methods. The election campaign was peaceful. Moreover, national minorities were involved in the election campaign, and candidates competed for the minority vote.
Women remain under-represented in political life, including in elected office. Only one registered candidate was a woman in these elections. However this was not a deliberate discrimination towards womanhood. Women were well represented in the election administration, accounting for 5 out of the 12 CEC members,
Kyrgyzstan civil society played an important role in civic and voter education and also undertook comprehensive long-term and short-term observation which contributed to increasing the transparency of the electoral process.
The legal framework for presidential elections comprises the 2010 Constitution, the 2011 Constitutional Law on Presidential and Parliamentary Elections (electoral law), the 2011 Law on Electoral Commissions, and other legislation. 4 Numerous amendments were made to the electoral law in June 2017.
Citizens who attained the age of 18 before or on Election Day were eligible to vote, except those serving a prison sentence, irrespective of the gravity of the crime committed and those having been declared incapacitated by a court decision, which is at odds with international commitments. Any Kyrgyzstani citizen between the age of 35 and 70 who has resided in the country for more than 15 years in total and has command of the state language, could stand for president. The electoral law bans from candidacy individuals who are not eligible to vote, as well as those with un-expunged or unexpired criminal records. The electoral law bans the participation in campaigns of certain individuals, including public officials, charity workers, religious figures, and minors.
The election campaign lasted from 10 September to 13 October. The registered candidates could, in general, campaign freely using a variety of campaign methods. Several candidates and their regional structures were actively campaigning throughout the country. Campaign materials of candidates Babanov and Jeenbekov were the most visible, followed by those of Mr. Sariev. Some candidates were predominantly active on social media and in more low-profile encounters with voters, rather than at rallies. Two candidates withdrew from the race and endorsed the leading contenders.
Regional Voting Percentage
According to figures of the national news agency the city of Osh registered the highest activity of voting i.e. 68.145%.
The SCO’s Statement
Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization said that the Kyrgyz CEC had created all the conditions for international observers to monitor the electoral process. He upheld that Presidential Election 2017 was organized in accordance with all new procedures. Both the older generation and the young actively participated in the election which showed its political maturity at large. He noted the excellent work of the election commissions and confirmed their professionalism and care for every citizen.
Conclusion
Democracy is the real winner in Kyrgyz’s Presidential Election 2017 where personalities come second and continuation of system comes first. In a genuine democracy the political transition always belongs to the system and Kyrgyzstan’s political system is the best among the CIS. It is perfectly balanced and pure, with its Constitution being the real custodian of all political rights and civil liberties. Elections are treated as divinity of modern democracy which is very much alive on the soil of great country, Kyrgyzstan. The bible of modern civilization and political system heavily depends on democratic norms, freedom of expression, fair and free election commission, active participation of political parties along with accountability and transparency which are enacted in Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan’s political system is stable and productive which carries all principles of a democratic society without any political backsliding or constitutional deadlock. It has modern system of good governance where national cause manages to achieve the desired goals of socio-economic prosperity, inter-faith, social justice, rule of the law and above all accountability in the society and governance.
Former Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov was the best choice and candidate for people’s section in the Presidential Election 2017. His political party Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) supported his candidature. He is a man of principles who knows the art of governance and has also been in the realm of governance for many years as the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan. He has great passion for his people being able to achieve a qualitative life, socio-economic development and rule of the law. Democracy is supreme and respected in Kyrgyzstan, now it has further strengthened the spirit of good governance.
