2021 Kyrgyz parliamentary election

Snap parliamentary elections were held in Kyrgyzstan on 28 November 2021.[2][3] They followed the annulment of the results of the October 2020 elections and the subsequent protests against the election's conduct. Seven parties passed the 5% threshold and will take up seats in the parliament.[4] Turnout hit a record low at less than 35%.[5][4]

2021 Kyrgyz parliamentary election
Kyrgyzstan
28 November 2021

All 90 seats in the Supreme Council
46 seats needed for a majority
Turnout34.67%
PartyLeader % Seats +/–
Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan Aybek Matkerimov 17.30 15 New
Ishenim Azamat Doroyev 13.63 12 New
Yntymak Chingiz Makeshov 10.99 9 New
Alliance Mirlan Jeenchoroyev 8.34 7 New
Butun Kyrgyzstan Adakhan Madumarov 7.04 6 +6
Yiman Nuru Nurzhigit Kadyrbekov 6.15 5 +5
Social Democrats Kadyrbek Atambayev 3.18 1 +1
Veterans of Afghan Akbokon Tashtanbekov 1 +1
Independents 32 +32
Leading party by constituency
Speaker of the Supreme Council before Speaker of the Supreme Council after
Talant Mamytov
Kyrgyzstan
Talant Mamytov[1]
Yntymak

Background

Following the large-scale 2020 Kyrgyz protests which resulted in the annulment of the October parliamentary election results, as well as the resignation of President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Central Electoral Commission (CEC) head Nurjan Shyldabekova on 16 October 2020 announced that repeat elections could be held on 20 December. At a CEC meeting on 21 October, the elections were scheduled for the aforementioned date in December.[6] However, just a day later on 22 October, the Supreme Council voted on a bill postponing the snap parliamentary elections and determining that they would be held no later than 1 June 2021, after new amendments to the Constitution would be adopted.[7][8]

On 10 January 2021, the presidential and government system referendum elections were held concurrently. As a result, Sadyr Japarov was elected as president with majority of voters approving his vision of a constitutional reform that called for a return of the country's presidential system.[9] After Japarov assumed office, during an interview with Kazakh-based Kazinform news agency, he announced that the parliamentary elections would not be held in June, but in autumn instead.[10]

During the course of political changes, Kyrgyzstan suffered a democratic backslide with a drop in its Freedom House world ranking to the "Not Free" category. In addition, several activists and academicians who criticised the authorities were charged with treason after being accused of calling for a violent seizure of power.[11][12][13]

A new draft of the Constitution was unveiled in February 2021, which resulted in more calls for a referendum that was held in April 2021 and approved by a majority of voters.[14][15] After coming to force on 5 May 2021, the seats in the Supreme Council were reduced from 120 to 90 along with MPs' powers, and a political advisory body People's Kurultai was formed.[16] The head of state (President) was granted more executive authority, as well as the power to appoint almost all judges and heads of law enforcement agencies.[16] New amendments to the Criminal Code, which were proposed by the Ministry of the Interior, were condemned by Human Rights Watch, warning that they would "endanger freedom of association and speech".[17][18]

Electoral system

Out of the 90 seats in the Supreme Council 54 will be elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency, and 36 in single-seat districts.[19] To win seats, parties must pass a national electoral threshold of 5% of the votes cast (down from 7% in the October 2020 elections),[3] and receive at least 0.5% of the vote in each of the seven regions.[20] The lists are open, with voters able to cast a single preferential vote. No one party is allowed to be given more than half of the proportional seats.[21][22] Party lists are required to have at least 30% of the candidates from each gender, and every fourth candidate had to be of a different gender. Each list is also required to have at least 15% of the candidates being from ethnic minorities and 15% of under 35 years old, as well as at least two candidates with disabilities.[22][23]

In addition, parliament abolished the use of Form No. 2, which allowed Kyrgyz voters to register to cast their ballots outside of their official home districts. The system was intended to allow migrant workers to vote where they worked, but after record numbers of this type of ballot were cast in the previous, annulled election, it was thought that the forms were abused to manipulate vote totals in the different regions.[3]

Parties admitted to the elections

A total of 21 parties were admitted to the elections.[24][25] The Birimdik and Mekenim Kyrgyzstan parties did not participate, with former members joining other party lists.[26]

Name Ideology Leader 2020 result
Votes
(%)
Seats
BK United Kyrgyzstan
Бүтүн Кыргызстан
1 National conservatism
Ethnic nationalism
Adakhan Madumarov 7.25%
13 / 120
AM Ata Meken Socialist Party
Ата-Мекен Социалисттик Партиясы
2 Social democracy
Democratic socialism
Omurbek Tekebayev 4.10%
0 / 120
Ishenim Ishenim
Ишеним
3 Communitarianism Azamat Doroyev DNP DNP
Yntymak Yntymak
Ынтымак
4 Direct democracy Chingiz Makeshov DNP DNP
UB Uluttar Birimdigi
Улуттар Биримдиги
5 Cultural nationalism Melisbek Myrzakmatov DNP DNP
AJK Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan
Ата-Журт Кыргызстан
6 Kyrgyz nationalism Aybek Matkerimov 6.96%[lower-alpha 1]
0 / 120
YN Light of Faith
Ыйман Нуру
7 Liberalism
Anti-corruption
Nurzhigit Kadyrbekov 3.41%
0 / 120
Alliance Alliance
Альянс
AK A Just Kyrgyzstan
Адилеттүү Кыргызстан
8 Mirlan Jeenchoroyev DNP DNP
KLDP Kyrgyz Liberal Democratic Party
Кыргыз либерал демократиялык партиясы
Liberalism Janar Akaev DNP DNP
BB Bir Bol
Бир Бол
Liberalism
Russophilia
Altynbek Sulaymanov 3.08%
0 / 120
El Ümütü
Эл Үмүтү
9 Bolot Ibragimov DNP DNP
Azattyk Azattyk Democratic Party
"Азаттык" демократиялык партиясы
10 Ismail Isakov DNP DNP
UJ Uluu-Jurt
Улуу-Журт
11 Mirlan Orozbaev DNP DNP
ME Mekenchil El Democratic Party
"Мекенчил Эл" демократиялык партиясы
12 Social conservatism Bakyt Ibraev DNP DNP
PPEK Kyrgyzstan Patriotic Party of the Unity
Кыргызстандын Бириктирүүчү патриоттук партиясы
13 Bakyt Osmankulov DNP DNP
SDK Social Democrats
Социал-демократтар
14 Social democracy
Pro-Atambayev
Kadyrbek Atambayev 2.17%
0 / 120
Aruuzat Party of People's Dignity - Aruuzat
Аруузат – Эл куту
15 Almakan Bekova DNP DNP
Ordo The Centre
Ордо
16 Populism Mirbek Miyarov 0.22%
0 / 120
Bagyt Liberal Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan "Bagyt"
"Багыт" либералдык-демократиялык партиясы
17 Liberalism

Liberal democracy

Belek Esenaliev DNP DNP
KJP Party of Greens
Кыргызстан Жашылдар Партиясы
18 Green politics Emil Yusuvaliev DNP DNP
Legalise Political Party "Legalise"
Саясий партиясы Легалайз
19 Cannabis decriminalization Eldar Madylbekov DNP DNP
KR Strong Region
Күчтүү регион
20 Regionalism Alexander Savitsky DNP DNP
JK Long live Kyrgyzstan
Жашасын Кыргызстан
21 Toktayim Umetalieva DNP DNP

Opinion polls

Polling firm Fieldwork date Sample AJK Yntymak Ishenim Ata Meken Light of Faith Bütün El Ümütü SDK Others Against all Undecided Boycott Lead
IRI 18 November 2021 11,000 5% 1% 3% 3% 3% 4% 2% 10% 36% 14% 1%
Eurasians 16 November 2021 11,000 14.0% 11.0% 9.8% 8.2% 7.0% 6.6% 5.2% 2.7% 9.9% 6.3% 16.0% 3.30% 3%
2020 election 4 October 2020 1,990,753 7.0% 4.1% 3.4% 7.3% 2.2% 74.3% 1.8% 0.6%

Results

PartyParty listsConstituencyTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan223,89219.0815
Ishenim176,38215.0312
Yntymak142,26712.129
Alliance107,8599.197
United Kyrgyzstan91,1117.766
Light of Faith79,5576.785
El Ümütü58,2154.960
Azattyk Democratic Party52,6664.490
Ata Meken Socialist Party46,2093.940
Social Democrats41,2053.51011
Uluttar Birimdigi31,6922.700
Mekenchil El Democratic Party20,6311.760
Liberal Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan "Bagyt"12,7081.080
Patriotic Party of the Unity of Kyrgyzstan12,4731.060
Uluu-Zhurt9,4520.810
Strong Region8,2390.700
Political Party "Legalise"8,0720.690
The Centre5,9800.510
Party of People's Dignity — Aruuzat5,9310.510
Long Live Kyrgyzstan5,6600.480
Party of the Greens of Kyrgyzstan5,3020.450
Independents3535
Against all28,2072.40
Total1,173,710100.00543636
Valid votes1,173,71090.71
Invalid/blank votes120,2369.29
Total votes1,293,946100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,703,42034.943,619,292
Source: CEC (100.00% counted)

Reactions

After the announcement of preliminary results of the vote, opposition parties denounced the election at a protest held in Bishkek on 29 November 2021, citing alleged electoral fraud that occurred during the counting as a blackout at the tabulation screen had shown several parties falling below the 5% electoral threshold. Omurbek Tekebayev, leader of the Ata Meken Socialist Party, called for the results to be annulled once again, just as in the previous parliamentary election.[27][28] In response to the allegations, CEC chairwoman Nurjan Shyldabekova asserted that the malfunction had occurred only at the monitor display and not within the counting process, which would have affected the results.[28]

On 1 December 2021, Omurbek Tekebayev was attacked by unknown persons at a restaurant. In response, Tekebayev linked the incident to his activities, calling it "political terror".[29]

References

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  2. "Parliamentary elections may be set for Oct 31 or Nov 7 in Kyrgyzstan".
  3. Putz, Catherine (22 October 2020). "Kyrgyzstan Punts on Elections to Pursue Constitutional Reforms". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. "Five Takeaways From The Kyrgyz Parliamentary Elections". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  5. Voting Machine Malfunctions, Record Low Turnout In Kyrgyz Parliamentary Elections, retrieved 29 November 2021
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  13. "Countries & Regions". Freedom House. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
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  25. https://shailoo.gov.kg/ru/news/5752/ 21 политическая партия зарегистрирована на выборы депутатов Жогорку Кенеша Кыргызской Республики.
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