A constitutional referendum was held in Kyrgyzstan on 11 April 2021. The new constitution was approved by 85% of voters.
Background
editFollowing the 2020 parliamentary elections, protests started in October 2020 that led to the resignation of president Sooronbay Jeenbekov. In January 2021 a referendum on the form of government was held alongside presidential elections (won by Sadyr Japarov), with voters asked whether they would prefer a presidential system, a parliamentary system, or opposed both. Just over 84% voted in favour of a presidential system.
Work began on drafting a new constitution, which was debated in the Supreme Council in February 2021. The draft new constitution replaces a parliamentary system with a presidential one, with presidents limited to two five years terms instead of a single six-year term. It also reduces the number of seats in the Supreme Council from 120 to 90 and establishes a constitutional court.[1] The changes were described by Associate Professor William Partlett of Melbourne Law School as moving "toward a form of presidentialism that is close to the authoritarian-style 'crown-presidentialism' in the post-Soviet Eurasian space."[2]
In March 2021 members of the Supreme Council passed a bill, scheduling a referendum on the new constitution for 11 April, the same day as local elections.[1]
Results
edit| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 1,048,660 | 85.25 | |
| Against | 181,370 | 14.75 | |
| Total | 1,230,030 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 1,230,030 | 93.08 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 91,472 | 6.92 | |
| Total votes | 1,321,502 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,606,201 | 36.65 | |
| Source: CEC | |||
Aftermath
editThe new constitution was adopted on 11 April 2021. President Japarov signed it on 5 May 2021.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b Kyrgyzstan to hold constitution referendum on April 11 Interfax, 11 March 2021
- ^ William Partlett, Kyrgyzstan’s 2021 Constitution: A Brief Comparative and Historical Analysis.
- ^ "President Japarov signs new Constitution of Kyrgyzstan". akipress.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021..