Japarov on target to win landslide victory in Kyrgyzstan election
Preliminary outcomes present nationalist Sadyr Japarov, 52, gained nearly 80 % of the vote, avoiding a runoff.
Nationalist politician Sadyr Japarov is on target to a landslide victory in Kyrgyzstan’s snap presidential election, which was triggered by the collapse of the earlier authorities.
Japarov gained nearly 80 % of the vote on Sunday within the Central Asian nation which is carefully allied with Russia, based on preliminary outcomes cited by Kyrgyzstan’s Central Election Commission, that means there can be no runoff.
The knowledge in the meantime confirmed his closest competitor trailing with lower than 7 %.
More than 80 % of voters have additionally supported a proposal to reform the structure to provide the president larger powers at parliament’s expense, the fee mentioned.
Just greater than 10 % supported the parliamentarian rule.
The referendum vote spells the top for a blended political system adopted in 2010 to tame authoritarianism after two successive strongman presidents had been ejected from energy throughout road protests.
Violent protests which erupted final October sprung Japarov, 52, from jail to the prime minister’s chair and culminated in him assuming the interim presidency earlier than he ran for the full-time function.
Japarov, who was sentenced to a prolonged jail time period for kidnapping a provincial governor as a part of a protest, had his verdict quashed amid the October unrest and has outspent 16 presidential ballot rivals by a large margin.
Russia a ‘strategic partner’
Despite his nationalist stance – Japarov’s first act as prime minister was so as to add ethnicity data to nationwide ID playing cards – he has repeatedly pledged to keep up an in depth relationship with former Soviet overlord Moscow.
“Russia is our strategic partner,” Japarov mentioned after casting his poll in a suburb of capital Bishkek, and urged all teams to just accept the outcomes in an effort to protect stability.
Russia operates a navy airbase within the mountainous nation and is the primary vacation spot for tons of of hundreds of Kyrgyz migrant labourers.
Neighbouring China is one other key commerce companion and investor within the impoverished and predominantly Muslim nation, whose economic system has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing disruptions to commerce and journey.
Japarov’s jail sentence stems from his marketing campaign within the early 2010s to nationalise the enormous Kumtor gold mine operated by Canada’s Centerra Gold. After coming to energy final yr, nonetheless, he mentioned that was now not a aim and he would solely search to make sure earnings are cut up pretty.
Japarov’s marketing campaign, which mixed references to conventional symbols and values with guarantees similar to doubling healthcare spending struck a chord with voters, particularly in rural areas.
Before toppling the federal government of President Sooronbay Jeenbekov in October, comparable violent protests deposed presidents in 2010 and 2005. Another former head of state, Almazbek Atambayev, is below arrest on corruption prices.
Protesters earlier on Sunday denounced Japarov’s plan to alter the structure, which opponents say will put the nation on a path to authoritarianism.
“I’m here to show my support for the constitution, the rule of law and parliamentarism,” mentioned Aizhamal Bektenova, 23.
“I’m against what is happening in my country. It is a usurpation of power, disrespect towards the law. People came here in protest against the corrupt leadership that wants to take the power away from the people,” she added.
However, others consider Japarov is Kyrgyzstan’s final hope.
“I feel sorry for Japarov,” mentioned supporter Uliijan, 46.
“Already now the parliament is constantly criticising him. They will not leave him in peace. I hope he will fulfil his promises. Probably not all of them but at least some. It will already be a lot.”
Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska contributed to this report from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
