Kyrgyz President Floats New PM Nominee

Agriculture Minister Azim Isabekov is regarded Bakiev ally (RFE/RL) BISHKEK, January 26, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyzstan's president has signaled his intention to nominate a close ally, Agriculture Minister Azim Isabekov, for the post of prime minister following lawmakers' second rejection of his effort to reinstate the acting prime minister, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

The move comes amid a standoff between President Kurmanbek Bakiev and the parliament over presidential powers stemming from revisions to a new constitution and Prime Minister Feliks Kulov's December decision to resign.

Isabekov, an economist, is regarded as a staunch ally of Bakiev.

The president reportedly met with key parliamentarians today to gauge political sentiment ahead of an official nomination, which could come later today.

Lawmakers are not expected to debate the nomination until at least January 29.

Presidential spokesman Nurlanbek Shakiev told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that Bakiev met with the heads of parliamentary committees and political factions to talk about Isabekov's nomination.

"The lawmakers [meeting with president] presented their demands, proposals, and wishes [regarding a new nomination]," Shakiev said. "Then the president proposed a candidate for the nomination there -- it is Azim Isabekov, who is acting minister of agriculture, water [and the reprocessing industry]".

Kulov and his government resigned in December amid a crisis surrounding the adoption of a new constitution.

Opponents have accused President Bakiev of reneging on a deal to diminish presidential powers that was struck in the midst of street protests demanding that he implement promised reforms or step down.

Kyrgyz law gives the president the power to dissolve the parliament if it rejects his nomination for prime minister three times, although political rivals continue to dispute precise interpretations of recent legal revisions.

(with additional reporting by AFP, AP)