Kyrgyzstan: an unsuccessful attempt to form a coalition government

On 30 November, more than a month and a half after the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, a coalition agreement was signed between three of the five parliamentary parties. However, no government was appointed; the coalition fell apart during voting for the speaker of parliament. The failed attempt to create a majority has pushed the prospect of a stable, efficient central authority in Kyrgyzstan even further into the distance.

The ongoing provisional state (since July, the country has been governed by a technical government) does not allow for a response to serious threats to the country’s stability (strong ethnic tensions in the south of the country, and the activities of extremist Islamic groups and organised crime).

After the parliamentary elections, the mission of forming a cabinet was entrusted to the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK; one of the political forces which supported the new political order after this April’s coup). As a result of the SDPK’s failure, this task has now fallen to the opposition Republic party, led by a young pro-Russian businessman, Omurbek Babanov. If both this and the next attempt fail, new parliamentary elections will be held.

The SDPK’s failure to create a parliamentary majority, which was preceded by long negotiations, confirms that the chances for a strong government in Bishkek are very limited. The obstacles include rivalries for influence and access to financial resources; personal conflicts; and Russia’s position of explicitly refusing to cooperate with certain political forces. The crisis is being worsened by reports of increased tensions in the south of the country, as well as the increasing activity of Islamist groupings. <MMat>