KYRGYZ SPEAKER RUNS AFOUL OF PRESIDENT, PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000545 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ SPEAKER RUNS AFOUL OF PRESIDENT, PARTY BISHKEK 00000545 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Speaker of Parliament Madumarov's $1 million proposal to refurbish parliament drew harsh criticism from the Kyrgyz White House and from members of his own Ak Jol party as wasteful and unnecessary. Madumarov lashed out in response, publicly criticizing Presidential Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov and then-Ak Jol parliamentary faction leader Ibraimova. Parliament's budget committee voted down the refurbishment proposal, and Madumarov said he would initiate a no-confidence vote against himself. The Ak Jol faction in parliament is reportedly considering the recall of Madumarov from the Speaker's chair. Ibraimova, who was appointed Vice Prime Minister on May 26 (septel),told DCM on May 28 that Madumarov would be out as Speaker by the end of the week. End Summary. Madumarov's "Walnutgate" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Speaker of Parliament Adakhan Madumarov's proposal to refurbish the parliament building using seized wood harvested illegally from Kyrgyzstan's state-protected walnut forest sparked impassioned debate in parliament May 22-23. Many parliamentarians argued that the renovation costs -- amounting to approximately $1 million -- would be excessive and unnecessary. MPs also voiced their concern regarding such a use of funds when a substantial portion of the population lives below the poverty line. ¶3. (SBU) The Kyrgyz White House also expressed opposition to the project, stating that the state budget could not support such renovations. Presidential Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov said President Bakiyev and the Cabinet had rejected the initiative, noting that the parliament should set an example of being fiscally conservative. ¶4. (SBU) In response, Madumarov lashed out at Sadyrkulov, accusing him of not speaking on behalf of the president and the people. He also accused Sadyrkulov of attempting to "sow discord" between parliament and the White House, adding that there would be "no progress" as long as Sadyrkulov remains in office. Madumarov also accused then-Ak Jol parliamentary faction head Elmira Ibraimova of using her position to turn other lawmakers against him, cautioning that punishment for her actions could follow. Madumarov claimed that he planned to initiate a vote of no-confidence against himself. On May 23, Parliament's committee for economy, budget and finance rejected Madumarov's proposal. ¶5. (SBU) Following the heated debate over refurbishment, on May 26 President Bakiyev appointed Ibraimova to the post of Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for social issues (septel). She was replaced as Ak Jol faction leader by Deputy Speaker Tursunbayev, who is reportedly close to Madumarov. According to press reports, the Ak Jol faction will consider the early recall of Madumarov from the post of Speaker at a meeting on May 28. Madumarov Out? -------------- ¶6. (C) On May 28, Vice PM Ibraimova told the DCM confidently that Madumarov was "out" as Speaker because of his "unethical behavior" that went beyond the single issue of the refurbishment of parliament. She said that five Ak Jol deputies had met Madumarov at the airport the evening of May 27 (Madumarov was returning from an official trip to Austria) to tell him to resign as Speaker, or face being voted out by the party. Ibraimova said that the Ak Jol faction was meeting May 28 to discuss the Speaker's post, and she expected that Madumarov would resign as Speaker by the end of the week. Ibraimova did not say who she thought the next Speaker would be, except to say that it would be someone from BISHKEK 00000545 002.2 OF 002 the Ak Jol party. She said there had been discussions within the party about offering the post of Speaker to one of the other parties in parliament, but that, in the end, the decision was to nominate someone from within Ak Jol. She expected a new Speaker to be nominated next week. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Madumarov, whose abrasive style and autocratic tendencies rub many the wrong way, may have pushed too far with his criticism of Sadyrkulov and Ibraimova. Ibraimova is well connected to the Krygyz White House: she is close politically to Presidential Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov, her sister is the deputy health minister, and her brother is the deputy minister of foreign affairs. The White House -- and President Bakiyev -- appears to have backed Ibraimova in this dispute, rewarding her with a promotion to the post of deputy prime minister, while demoting Madumarov. End Comment. YOVANOVITCH