Kyrgyzstani presidential election, 2009
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A presidential election was held in Kyrgyzstan on 23 July 2009. The date was set after the constitutional court ruled that the extension of the presidential term from four to five years did not apply until the next presidential election, calling for elections by 25 October 2009; in response, a parliament committee proposed the July election date, which was then passed by the incumbent president Kurmanbek Bakiyev's Ak Jol-dominated parliament. Bakiyev had previously announced his intention to run for reelection. Bakiyev was re-nominated on 1 May 2009.
On election day the main opposition candidate, Almazbek Atambayev, withdrew from the contest, citing his belief that fraud was employed extensively and thus considers the election illegitimate. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also claimed that Bakiyev had unfair advantages in terms of superior media coverage of his campaign, and vote rigging. Eventually, Bakiyev was declared the winner of the election with around 78% of the vote. An opposition rally on election day was broken up by Kyrgyz police.
On 20 April 2009, the United Opposition announced its candidate – Almazbek Atambayev, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, the only opposition party represented in parliament. Another opposition politician, former defence minister Ismail Isakov, announced on 19 May 2009 that he would withdraw from the race to improve Atambayev's chances, reducing the field from 18 to 17 potential candidates.
Apart from Bakiyev and Atambayev, three more candidacies were approved: Those of Toktayym Ümötalieva (chairwoman of the Association of Nongovernmental and Nonprofit Organizations), physician Jengishbek Nazaraliev and Temir Sariev.
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