Bakiyev, Kurmanbek Saliyevich, 1949-, Kyrgyz political leader, president of Kyrgyzstan (2005-), b. Masadan. A graduate of Kuybyshev Polytechnic Institute (1972), he served in the Soviet armed forces (1974-76) and worked as an electrical engineer and factory manager before entering politics in 1990. Bakiyev held various government posts, becoming prime minister in 2000. He was forced to resign in 2002, in the wake of violent government clashes with the opposition, and then became the leader of the People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan. Following another uprising and the forced exile of President Askar Akayev in Mar., 2005, Bakiyev was named interim president and prime minister. In the July, 2005, presidential election he ran on a platform of attacking the country's endemic poverty and corruption; his reelection in July, 2009, was marked by widespread irregularities.

The President of Kyrgyzstan is the head of state and the highest official of Kyrgyzstan. The President, according to the constitution, "is the symbol of the unity of people and state power, and is the guarantor of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, and of an individual and citizen." He or she is directly elected for no more than two five-year terms by the Kyrgyz electorate. The office of President was established in 1990 replacing the Chairman of the Supreme Council that existed from 1936 whilst the country was known as the Kyrgyz SSR.

The previous, and first, popularly-elected office-holder was Askar Akayev, who resigned on March 24, 2005. New elections in July of that year gave Kurmanbek Bakiev a five year mandate, creating the first Presidential succession in Central Asian history.

Election

Qualifications

The office of President is open to all citizens of Kyrgyzstan, who are no younger than 35 years of age, and no older than 65 years of age. A candidate must have a command of the state language, and have resided in the Republic for no less than 15 years before the nomination of his or her candidacy for the position. He or she cannot be a deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament), occupy other positions or carry out entrepreneurial activities and must suspend activity in political parties and organizations for his or her period of stay in office.

On taking office the President must take the following oath, stipulated by Article 45 of the constitution, within 30 days of election before the assembled members of the legislative chamber:

"I,...while taking the obligations of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, before my People and the Sacred Motherland Ala-Too do swear: to observe and protect the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic; to guard the sovereignty and independence of the Kyrgyz State; to respect and guarantee the rights and freedoms of all citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic; to perform faithfully the high duties of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic entrusted to me by the confidence of all the People!"

Electoral Law

The President is elected by the citizens of Kyrgyzstan by a majority of votes cast. These elections are held on the basis of universal suffrage, and by secret ballot. To become a candidate a person must obtain the signatures of fifty thousand registered voters.

For an election to be considered valid the turnout must not be lower than fifty percent. Similarly, if a candidate wins the backing of fifty percent of the voters who participated he or she is considered the winner. Should no candidate win an outright majority in the first round, the two candidates with the highest number of votes face each other in a second ballot.

Duties and functions

The head of state holds significant power as provided for in the constitution. This states that he or she has the authority to:

• Appoint the Prime Minister and other members of government
• Present candidates to Parliament for positions within the Supreme Court
• Direct foreign policy
• Present and sign law
• Announce all elections and enact decrees
• Be Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

Impeachment

The President may be dismissed from office by Parliament only on the basis of a charge made by the Legislative Assembly of state treason or another grievous crime supported by a ruling of the Constitutional Court. Such a decision requires the support of two-thirds of the Jogorku Kenesh who are immediately dismissed should the President be found innocent.

Succession

If the President becomes unable to carry out their duties for reasons such as death, illness or impeachment, the Prime Minister shall carry out their duties until the election of a new Head of State. This must take place within three months of the termination of their Presidency.

Leaders of Kyrgyzstan since 1924

Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast (1924-1925) and Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast (1925-1926)

First Secretaries of the Kirghiz Provincial Organization of the All-Union Communist Party

• Yusup Abdrakhmanovich Abdrakhmanov (November 1924 - August 1925)
• Nevler (August 1925 - August 1925) (1st time, acting)
• Zhaynak Sadayevich Sadayev (August 1925 - August 1925) (acting)
• Duyshenaly Babakhanov (August - September 1925) (acting)
• Nevler (September 1925 - September 1925) (2nd time, acting)
• Nikolay Anisimovich Uzyukov (September 1925 - 1 February 1926)

Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1926-1936)

First Secretaries of the Kirghiz Provincial Organization of the All-Union Communist Party

• Nikolay Anisimovich Uzyukov (1 February 1926 - June 1927)
• Vladimir Petrovich Shubrikov (1927 - 1929)
• Mikhail Maksimovich Kulkov (1929 - 1930)
• Aleksandr Osipovich Shakhray (1930 - 1934)
• Moris L'vovich Belotsky (1934 - 5 December 1936)

Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic (1936-1991)

First Secretary of the Kirghiz Provincial Organization of the All-Union Communist Party

• Moris L'vovich Belotsky (5 December 1936 - March 1937)

First Secretaries of the Communist Party

• Maksim Kirovich Ammosov (23 April - 7 November 1937) (acting to 16/17 June 1937)
• Kerim Kenebayev (November 1937 - February 1938) (acting)
• Aleksey Vlasovich Vagov (20 February 1938 - 3 June 1945) (acting to 16 July 1938)
• Nikolay Semyonovich Bogolyubov (3 June 1945 - 7 July 1950)
• Iskhak Razzakovich Razzakov (7 July 1950 - 9 May 1961)
• Turdakun Usubaliyevich Usubaliyev (9 May 1961 - 2 November 1985)
• Absamat Masaliyevich Masaliyev (2 November 1985 - 6 April 1991)
• Jumgalbek Beksultanovich Amanbayev (6 April - 29 August 1991)

Kyrgyz Republic (1991-Present)

Presidents

• Askar Akayevich Akayev (27 October 1990 -11 April 2005) (left country on 24 March 2005; from 24 March 2005 in exile in Kazakhstan, then in exile in Russia)
• Ishenbay Duyshonbyevich Kadyrbekov (24 March - 25 March 2005) (acting)
• Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev (25 March 2005 - Present) (acting to 14 August 2005)

Election results

|Summary of the 10 July 2005 Kyrgyzstan presidential election results ^edit !style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|Votes !style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=right|% |- |Kurmanbek Bakiyev |align="right" |  |align="right" |88.7 |- |Tursunbai Bakir-uul |align="right" |  |align="right" |3.9 |- |Akbaraly Aitikeyev |align="right" |  |align="right" |3.7 |- |Zhapar Dzheksheyev |align="right" |  |align="right" |0.9 |- |Toktoim Umetaliyeva |align="right" |  |align="right" |0.5 |- |Keneshbek Dushebaev |align="right" |  |align="right" |0.5 |- |Against all candidates |align="right" |  |align="right" |0.9 |- |style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Total (turnout %) |width="75" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"| |width="30" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|100.0 |}

''Source: Angus Reid.

See also

• Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan
• Politics of Kyrgyzstan
• Kyrgyz presidential election, 2005

External links

• Official webpage