The next election cycle in Kyrgyzstan will start in 2025 with local elections. Election campaign to the Parliament will pick up the baton in 2026, and the final chord will sound in 2027, when the country will elect a president.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) initiated creation of an interdepartmental working group that will improve the electoral legislation. It includes members of Parliament, members of the CEC itself, judges, representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, civil society and experts.
They should analyze the current legislation and develop recommendations for its improvement. The OSCE/ODIHR presented its recommendations.
As an expert Ainura Usupbekova told 24.kg news agency, within the framework of their mandate, the OSCE representatives did not demand to change the electoral system, abandoning the mixed one and keeping the proportional one only.
«In particular, the OSCE/ODIHR recommends reviewing the legislative framework, including the provisions of the Constitution, in order to comply with the obligations of Kyrgyzstan within the OSCE and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections. The lawmaking process must comply with the requirements of the rule of law, and legislators must refrain from using fast-track procedures to introduce significant changes to the electoral law that require proper discussion,» she explained.
OSCE/ODIHR representatives reminded CEC members that freedom of the media must be strictly respected. Unreasonable restrictions on access to information and interference in the activities of journalists should not be allowed.
«The environment in which media professionals work must be conducive to freedom of expression. In order to increase independence and impartiality, the OSCE/ODIHR recommends the CEC to review the legislation in such a way that it guarantees a more balanced political representation,» Ainura Usupbekova said.
It is recommended to consider the possibility of returning to the previous model for formation of the CEC.
To ensure more equal representation of women in Parliament, the authorities should, according to OSCE/ODIHR experts, increase gender quotas for party lists and introduce additional mechanisms to maintain quota proportionality between registration and the election day.
Parties should put in place internal mechanisms to integrate gender aspects into party rules, policies and practices, including but not limited to increasing the number of female candidates.
