Kyrgyz Parties Forge New Parliament Coalition

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev

The political party of Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has built a new majority coalition, less than two weeks after the previous ruling coalition collapsed.

The new coalition formed on November 3 includes Atambaev's Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Kyrgyzstan party, and the Bir Bol (Be United) party.

Sooronbai Jeenbekov was nominated for prime minister, a position he held in the previous cabinet.

Jeenbekov’s government resigned on October 26 after the SDP quit the ruling coalition because some partners refused to support proposed constitutional changes.

On November 2, Kyrgyz lawmakers approved plans to hold a national referendum on December 11 on the controversial reforms.

The constitution bars Atambaev from running for a second presidential term when his mandate ends next year. Critics say the proposed reform would enable him to become a powerful prime minister.