PARLIAMENT PASSES, PRESIDENT SIGNS NEW KYRGYZ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001586 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ASEC KG SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT PASSES, PRESIDENT SIGNS NEW KYRGYZ CONSTITUTION; PROTEST TURNS TO CELEBRATION REF: A. BISHKEK 1571 ¶B. BISHKEK 1566 ¶C. BISHKEK 1565 ¶D. BISHKEK 1554 ¶E. BISHKEK 1551 ¶F. BISHKEK 1548 ¶G. BISHKEK 1537 STATE 180495 BISHKEK 00001586 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Late on November 8, the Kyrgyz Parliament adopted a new constitution that appears to limit the powers of the president and to increase the role of the parliament. On November 9, President Bakiyev signed the new constitution into effect, although under the terms of the agreement both the President and Parliament will remain in office until their terms end in 2010. This latest draft was the product of a "reconciliation group" with members from the government and the Parliament and co-chaired by State Secretary Madumarov and Speaker Sultanov. The agreement on a new constitution has effectively ended the opposition's "indefinite" protest on Ala-too Square, as the rally has turned into a "victory celebration." The pro-government rally in front of the Parliament building ended early in the afternoon. The compromise on a new constitution removes the most contentious grievance of the opposition, but numerous other issues remain, and the long struggle between President Bakiyev and the opposition is far from over. Nevertheless, people in Bishkek are in a celebratory mood, glad that the struggle ended peacefully, and in a compromise. END SUMMARY. Parliament Adopts New Constitution -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Late on November 8, the Kyrgyz Parliament voted to adopt amendments to the constitution that substantially changed the structure of the Kyrgyz government. The "new" constitution appears to reduce the powers of the president, while expanding the role of the parliament. Under its provisions, the president loses his authority to appoint the prime minister and ministers, and all ministries will be under the prime minister. The parliament will expand from 75 to 90 members, half elected by party list and half from single-member constituencies. The majority party in parliament will nominate the prime minister and form the government. President Bakiyev signed the amendments into effect on November 9, but under the provisions of the agreement, the president and the members of parliament will remain in office until their terms expire in 2010. (Note: Post has examined the Russian text of the new constitution, and our preliminary analysis of the changes will be reported septel. End Note.) Protest Turns into Celebration -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Following the midnight vote in Parliament on November 8, the opposition protest in Ala-too Square quickly turned into a celebration, with demonstrators setting off fireworks and music playing to the crowd. Opposition leaders addressed the crowd, calling the compromise a victory for the protesters. The celebratory atmosphere continued on November 9 after President Bakiyev signed the constitution into effect. Demonstrators began dismantling their tents on Ala-too Square, and families, women, and children began to join the crowd. By 16:00 local, there was a crowd of approximately 5000 on the square, listening to speeches and music. Speakers told that crowd that they could go home confident that they had achieved a victory. The pro-government demonstration on nearby Old Square had also ended by mid-afternoon, with the yurts dismantled and only a handful of die-hard protesters on the square. And after a week of mild, sunny weather, temperatures dropped and rain BISHKEK 00001586 002.2 OF 002 clouds formed, portending a rapid end to the demonstration -- now a street party -- tonight. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Adoption of a new constitution has brought to a peaceful conclusion the week-long opposition demonstration. Both government and opposition figures have portrayed this compromise on the constitution as a victory, and the opposition can rightly claim that it forced change through non-violent protest. Opposition leader MP Omurbek Tekebayev hailed the compromise, but groused that the price of the compromise was that both Bakiyev and Kulov get to remain in office until the end of their terms. And while the constitutional issues appear to be settled (though much will depend on implementation),many other issues remain unresolved, such as the demand to turn state television into public television, and the demand to remove Bakiyev's relatives from office. Nevertheless, people in Bishkek are in a celebratory mood, glad that the struggle ended peacefully, and in a compromise. YOVANOVITCH