On December 4 President Otunbayeva presented Respublika leader Omurbek Babanov. With a mandate to form a ruling coalition in Kyrgyzstan’s Jogorku Kenesh parliament.This will be the second attempt at creating a coalition after SPDK chief Almas Atambayev failed at the first time of asking. Other factions have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Respublika.
The President’s Press Service reported a day earlier that Otunbayeva had held consultations with all factions before she came to this decision.
Representatives of the Respublika Party are still unavailable for comment on this latest development.
Otunbayeva handed Babanov a mandate to form the coalition after the head of the SPDK party Almas Atambaev announced the collapse of the initial ruling coalition, which had consisted of three parties; SDPK, Ata-Meken and Respublika.
Formed by the leader of the SPDK faction, the coalition fell apart on December 2 after Ata-Meken chieftain Omurbek Tekebayev was not elected as speaker of the parliament.
Previously it had been assumed that the coalition would be formed by Ata-Meken, but Tekebayev apparently refused, offering to transfer the mandate to the “opposition”.
Poll: Do you like the idea of Respublika forming a governing coalition?
* No (65.0%, 26 Votes)
* Yes(35.0%, 14 Votes)
Total Voters: 40
Political scientist Toktogul Kakchekeev believes that the ruling coalition “will be the same three parties” that featured in the original proposal.
“Tekebayev simply had no moral right to obtain a mandate to build a parliamentary majority, SPDK failed, and that leaves the mandate to Bobanov, but the coalition will remain the same,” said Kakchekeev.
However, political scientist Marat Kazakpaev told Kloop.kg that Ata-Meken will not enter the new ruling coalition, and “will be in opposition.”
“I think the new model coalition will feature Respublika themselves, SPDK, Ar-Namys and Ata-Jurt, because Respublika were initially opposed to working with Ata-Meken,” said Kazakpaev.
Kazakpaev also believes that members of the Respublika party “did not vote” for Omurbek Tekebayev’s speakership of the Jogorku Kenesh.
“We are ready to cooperate with Respublika”
Representatives of the other four factions sitting in parliament have made it clear that they are willing to work with Respublika.
Leader of Ar-Namys, Felix Kulov, said in an interview with Kloop.kg, that his party was “ready to cooperate with everybody.”
Irina Karamushkina, an MP from the party SPDK also noted that their faction is ready to cooperate with Respublika.”
“From the beginning we have stated that we are ready to cooperate with everyone, and we think that we will continue to work with Respublika,” said Karamushkina.
Ata-Jurt candidate Ibrahim Zhunusov said in an interview with Kloop.kg that their party is “ready to cooperate with others.”
“Actually, I believe that the Respublika party should already begin negotiations, and by the end of next week, announce the ruling coalition. The parliament must start working, so [this process] can no longer continue,” said Zhunusov.
Asiya Sasykbaeva, an MP from Ata-Meken, said in an interview Kloop.kg that “nothing is yet known, but the party is ready to cooperate with other parties.”
Author: Ulugbek Akishev