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Single-party Parliament formed in Kyrgyzstan

17 December 2007 13:07 (UTC +04:00)

Preliminary results of parliamentary elections were publicized in Kyrgyzstan, APA reports. Only two parties were able to overcome 5% minimum barrier for representation in parliament.
With 81 percent of ballots counted, the newly-created Ak-Zhol party had won 47.8 percent of the votes and overcome a legal requirement to garner at least 13,500 votes in each of this former Soviet republic’s nine regions. With 81 percent of ballots counted, the newly-created Ak-Zhol party had won 47.8 percent of the vote and overcome a legal requirement to garner at least 13,500 votes in each of this former Soviet republic’s nine regions. The opposition Ata Meken party was the only other party to pass the nationwide threshold of 5 percent needed to make it into the chamber, with 9.3 percent. According to the Central Electoral Commission, a political party running for the parliament must poll at least 5% of the total number of votes plus 0.5% in each of seven regions and cities of Bishkek and Osh. Ak Zhol party alone passed the regional barrier. Ata-Meken party appears to have failed to meet the "regional" requirement and therefore make the parliament. A total of 12 political parties were competing for the 90 seats in the legislature, in the first parliamentary elections since irregularities in a 2005 vote sparked a revolution that brought Bakiyev to power. Above the 50 percent is needed for the election to be considered valid. International organizations observing the elections stated that ballot was held due to international standards. /APA/