BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan is to hold the next presidential election on November 19, 2017. The date was indicated during President Almazbek Atambayev’s meeting with the head of the country’s Central Election Commission on February 15, Atambayev’s press service said.
“The head of state noted the special importance of election of a new President of the country, which in accordance with the constitutional law will be held on the third Sunday of November, that is November 19 of this year,” the press service said.
“In the remaining nine months before the election, we should eliminate all shortcomings and omissions in the work and ensure fully open and fair elections of a new head of state,” the press service quoted Atambayev as saying to the Central Election Commission head.
The presidential election race has already begun in Kyrgyzstan with three candidates that have already announced they will run for the post.
The parliamentary faction of Respublika—Ata-Jurt party on February 14 nominated its leader Omurbek Babanov as its candidate in the presidential election.
Babanov, 47, was Kyrgyzstan’s prime minister in 2011-2012.
Two other prominent politicians — former Prime Minister Temir Sariyev, who leads Ak-Shumkar (White Falcon) party, and Onuguu-Progress party leader Bakyt Torobayev, have also announced plans to run for president.
Torobayev was nominated at his party’s congress on February 10.
Torobayev, 44, is the leader of Onuguu-Progress’s faction in the Kyrgyz parliament.
Temir Sariyev announced that he will run for president at his Ak Shumkar party’s conference on February 4.
Sariyev, 53, served as prime minister from May 2015 through April 2016, when he resigned after several parliament members accused his cabinet of corruption.
Kyrgyzstan is the only country in Central Asia in which the president is limited to a single term.
Incumbent President Almazbek Atambayev has said publicly that he would not seek political office, including the post of the prime minister, after his presidential term ends, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.
In December, Kyrgyzstan held a constitutional referendum which approved 26 amendments, including changes shifting key powers from the president to the prime minister.
The move has been criticized by Atambayev’s opponents, who suspect it is designed to pave the way for him to stay in power after his term ends following the election this year.
