Kyrgyz Committee Rejects Kulov's Renomination

Feliks Kulov (file photo) (RFE/RL) January 22, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The Kyrgyz parliament's Constitution Committee today ruled that President Kurmanbek Bakiev's decision to renominate Feliks Kulov for prime minister runs contrary to existing legislation, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Committee head Iskhak Masaliev said Bakiev has the right to submit another candidate.

But Myrza Kaparov, the government's envoy to the legislature, gave a different assessment.

Addressing the committee, he said Bakiev has the right to nominate the same person three times in a row and to dissolve the legislature if the latter disapproves of his choice.

"We must also refer to the constitutional law on government, which says that the president has the right to submit the [same] candidacy three times," Kaparov said. "If the Jorgorku Kenesh [parliament] rejects his choice three times, you know all the consequences. Everything is clearly written in this law."

Bakiev on January 19 submitted Kulov's candidacy to parliament for approval for the second consecutive time, one day after the legislature rejected his choice.

Kulov resigned on December 19, triggering fresh political turmoil that resulted in the revamping of the constitution to give the president more powers.

(with material from AKIpress, Kabar, 24.kg)

Understanding Kyrgyzstan

Workers preparing for celebrations of the constitutional compromise in Bishkek on November 9 (RFE/RL)

A STABLE FOUNDATION? On November 9, RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a briefing featuring RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service Director Tyntchtykbek Tchoroev and RFE/RL analyst Daniel Kimmage.