Referendum: part II

Congratulations! We, as a people of Kyrgyzstan, live under a new Constitution (5th or 6th). Let us start with the fact that the turnout was ~85% (!) (preliminary). I doubt that even developed and democratic states of the West enjoy such numbers. But we do! How? Well, governments have a magic wand called "administrative resource", magical stroke of which makes students, doctors, teachers etc. go and vote for whatever they want. Some become so enchanted that they go and vote 5 or 6 times.

Well, our government likes to use this wand a lot, or rather always. This time government was so nice and helpful that voters did not even have to go to polling stations: they voted for you, so you can stay at home and enjoy the weekend. Thus I am confident, that my beloved government made sure my conscious "YES" ballot is somewhere in the Central election committe (CEC) vaults, although I did not even think about the referendum that day.

Now, guess how many voted "YES" (like me) ~75% of the total votes. A question that struck me first- "could our President at least TRY to give more realistic numbers?!". OK, no further comments.

Today, I read in the news that the President is dissolving the Parliament on the grounds that the latter tried to overrule Constitutional Court. Certainly, President had to chip in because he is the "guarantor" of the main law. Another question popped up: why so fast?! CEC has not even announced the referendum results, while decree that dissmissed Jogorku Kenesh was already signed. Preliminary date for elections- December 16, 2007.

This past referendum marked the start of the "hot" winter, since upcoming elections will be different- party lists, according to our new Electoral Code that was also voted "YES" along with C. We will get to observe one of the largest political experiments in Central Asia- a parliament based on party lists only. Particularly I am curious to see how parties and individuals will behave, because paties are extremely weak and based on leaders rather than ideas.

Of course, we already have a party-nominee for Parliament majority- Ak Jol People's Party (recently created Presidential party). And certainly, the "magic wand" will play its part, however many predict that it will be more difficult to obtain such overwhelming numbers for the elections. Who knows? Maybe the stroke will be harder this time.

PS my preliminary general opinion about the elections: "Ak Jol was not created to participate in the elections, elections were called so that Ak Jol can pass- and so shall it be"