KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT VOTES DOWN KULOV AGAIN; BAKIYEV

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000064 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT VOTES DOWN KULOV AGAIN; BAKIYEV CONSULTING OVER NEW CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER REF: A. BISHKEK 50 ¶B. BISHKEK 46 ¶C. BISHKEK 30 Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: For the second time in a week, the Kyrgyz Parliament today voted down the nomination of Felix Kulov to the post of Prime Minister. President Bakiyev has said he will not nominate Kulov a third time, but will consult tomorrow morning with leaders in Parliament about a new candidate. There is no obvious front runner for the nomination, but names being discussed include: First Vice Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov, Bishkek Mayor Arstanbek Nogoyev, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Yevgeniy Semenenko, and Minister of Agriculture Azim Isabekov. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) The Kyrgyz Parliament has for the second time voted down Acting Prime Minister Felix Kulov for the post of Prime Minister. In its January 25 session, Parliament first voted to reject the recommendation of its Committee on Constitutional Legislation that the nomination be returned to President Bakiyev (Refs A and B) and agreed to consider the Kulov's nomination. Then, in a secret ballot, the Parliament voted down his candidacy by a margin of 38-25. Parliament had voted down Kulov's previous nomination to the post on January 18 (Ref C). ¶3. (SBU) Although Kulov reportedly said that he was willing to be nominated again, President Bakiyev has said that he will not nominate Kulov for a third time. According to press reports, Bakiyev has offered Kulov another position in the government. Bakiyev plans to consult with parliamentary leaders the morning of January 26, and has said he will announce a new candidate later in the day. ¶4. (C) There is no obvious front runner to take Kulov's place as prime minister. Names we are hearing from sources include: First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov (Note: Presidential Deputy Chief of Staff Medet Sadyrkulov told the Ambassador on January 23 that Usenov would not be the candidate. Ref B. End Note.); Bishkek Mayor Arstanbek Nogoyev; Minister of Labor and Social Protection Yevgeniy Semenenko; and Minister of Agriculture Azim Isabekov. Whoever emerges as the candidate, two MPs told us today that they doubted Parliament would confirm anyone until President Bakiyev came to the Parliament to introduce the candidate and lobby for him. Bakiyev did not go to Parliament to support Kulov's nomination. YOVANOVITCH