Kyrgyz constitutional referendum, 2010

A constitutional referendum was held in Kyrgyzstan on 27 June 2010 to reduce presidential powers and strengthen democracy in the wake of the riots earlier in the year.Parliamentary elections followed on 10 October 2010.

Following the ousting of Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the interim administration of Roza Otunbayeva called for a referendum to decrease presidential powers. The proposed constitution would make Kyrgyzstan Central Asia's first parliamentary republic.

In the weeks prior to the election ethnic unrest in the south of the country (Bakiyev's home region) in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad between minority Uzbeks and indigenous Kyrgyz curfew was imposed in a clampdown by Bishkek. Some refugees returned from camps in Uzbekistan amid a humanitarian crisis. The curfew was lifted for the elections. In Bishkek, the situation was reportedly "calm, with people displaying a mixture of skepticism and hope that the vote would create a new future for Kyrgyzstan."

The vote came amid international fears over the stability of the country.

The interim government's deputy leader Omurbek Tekebayev responded to this criticism saying the foreign intelligence bureaus imply that the parliamentary democracy envisioned in the referendum was incompatible with Kyrgyzstan. "Some top officials from different states have spoken about a possible Afghanization of Kyrgyzstan, about a break-up of the state. I mean the statements by President Dmitry Medvedev and others. It is possible they have been misinformed, that they blindly believe the officials from their special services who have long been at the service of the local oligarchs."

The new constitution would make Kyrgyzstan a parliamentary democracy, moving it away from a presidential system. The presidency would become a ceremonial position, with office holders serving a single term. The president would have the right to veto legislation, but would not be able to dissolve parliament. Otunbayeva would also continue to hold the office of "President of the transitional period" until the end of 2011.

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