BISHKEK (TCA) — The Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK), led by former President Almazbek Atambayev, has announced its decision to join the opposition.
SDPK spokeswoman Kunduz Joldubaeva told reporters on March 18 that the party made the decision so that “it could criticize the government and propose other ways for the country’s development,” RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.
Joldubaeva said that the party will hold its next congress on April 6.
She did not indicate whether the SDPK would quit the ruling coalition in the Kyrgyz parliament.
The SDPK is the largest political party within the coalition that also comprises the Kyrgyzstan Party, Ata-Meken (Fatherland), and Onuguu-Progress.
The party has been in crisis for a year after party members launched the “SDPK without Atambayev” campaign in the wake of a rift between Atambayev and incumbent President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who was elected in October 2017 as an SDPK candidate.
On March 17, Atambayev issued a public apology for helping to bring Jeenbekov to power, likening his one-time ally to an autocrat.
Speaking at a public gathering devoted to the 17th anniversary of deadly antigovernment protests in the southern village of Aksy, Atambayev accused Jeenbekov of creating an autocratic governing style based on family ties in the Central Asian country.
“I apologize that while all my life fighting against autocratic regimes, I failed to see the true inner self of that person (Jeenbekov), and seeing only his mask, I brought him and his family to power,” Atambayev said, adding that Jeenbekov’s policies split the nation.
Several of Atambayev’s close allies were arrested on corruption charges just months after Jeenbekov’s inauguration.
The SDPK deputy chairwoman, lawmaker Irina Karamushkina, said last month that Atambayev will lead the party’s list of candidates for next year’s parliamentary elections.
