By RIA Novosti
Bishkek : The Kyrgyz president’s Ak Zhol party won over 47% of the vote in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, which gives it all seats in the legislature according to preliminary results, an election official said.
Parties have to win at least 5% of the national vote and overcome the 0.5% threshold in each of the Central Asian state’s regions to be elected to the unicameral 90-seat parliament.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev called the early vote in October, after changing the Constitution in a referendum that strengthened his powers, and establishing his own party Ak Zhol. In line with the new Constitution, parliament was elected from party lists for the first time in the ex-Soviet state’s history.
Bakiyev’s opponents said Constitutional changes and the early parliamentary elections were initiated by the president to usurp power and backtrack on democracy. However, Bakiyev’s supporters say the new system is more democratic.
Kyrgyzstan has been in political turmoil ever since 2005 when disputed parliamentary elections triggered mass protests that ousted the longtime leader Askar Akayev and brought Bakiyev to power.
The opposition accuses Bakiyev of failing to improve living standards, curb corruption and bring democracy. The opposition has also accused authorities of plotting “large-scale vote rigging” at the parliamentary elections.
On Monday, the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan will consider the legitimacy of establishing the 0.5% regional threshold.