#139: Face Control Elections

Political parties are officially allowed to campaign only starting from November 26, but here and there you can see, read, watch, listen to how certain parties, both government and opposition, have already started their campaigns. Party lists have been the most interesting thing to analyze. Some of the lists are disappointing, some surprised me, others were not interesting at all. As of today, 22 parties have registered. They have to complete their registration by November 25.

Because elections fully based on party lists are new to us, people still associate them with specific names. It reminds of all these people that are lined up to get the privilege to enter a night club (our parliament has long become one). You have to be associated with the political party leaders (celebrities of sort). Ak-Jol is clearly associated with President Bakiev, SPDK with PM Atambaev (although is not in the party list), Atameken with ex-MP Tekebaev, Communists with ex-MP Masaliev, Arnamys with ex-PM Kulov, etc.

While looking through party lists, I could not find Marat Sultanov, the last speaker of the Parliament and one of Bakiev's supporters. Another important thing is that religious (Muslim) people have openly expressed interest in entering politics. Country's Ombudsman Tursunbay Bakir uulu, a pious person himself, had Imam Rashot Kamalov, son of late Imam Rafiq Qori Kamoluddin (Kamalov), killed last year by Kyrgyz security forces, in the list of ErK Party. Another new-born Muslim and TV host Myktybek Arstanbek, is #2 in Zamandash Party.

It seems that at least 5 political parties will make to the Parliament on December 16. They are Ak-Jol, Atameken, Social Democrats, Communists, and another small party, in order to dilute the power of the opposition parties in the parliament. The government will need to get in the worst case a majority of seats, but it will need 2/3 of seats to pass any law it wants. Right now, the fight is primarily between Ak-Jol and Atameken. SPDK is trying to keep away from it, but they are being attacked because, I think, the government wants to avoid the repetition of the situation in Ukraine, when Yulia Timoshenko's Bloc won many seats, while the two Victors were fighting with each other.

On a non-political note, the National Bank announced that for the first time since 1991 Kyrgyzstan will have its own coins. Up until this time, we only had paper-money. Most foreigners consider our tyiyn (Kyrgyz cents) as monopoly money, as they are square and in pink, blue, and green colors. We will have coins for 1, 10, 50-tyiyn and 1, 3, and 5-som banknotes. It will be hard to get used to coins again. This is how the new coins will look.