MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
Kyrgyzstan
Index
Besides electing Akayev, the 1990 parliament fashioned the legislative
foundation for the political transformation of the republic, in concert
with the president. Perhaps the biggest accomplishment in this phase was
the drafting and passage, in May 1993, of the country's constitution. The
constitution mandates three branches of government: a unicameral
parliament; an executive branch, consisting of government and local
officials appointed by the president; and a judiciary, with a
presidentially appointed Supreme Court and lower courts.
In many ways, however, the constitution has not been put into force.
Akayev is still president under a popular mandate gained in an uncontested
election in 1991, and most of the judicial system has not been appointed.
The existing bicameral parliament, which was elected early in 1995, does
not match the unicameral body prescribed by the constitution. This
structural change was attained through popular referendum, for which the
constitution does not provide, although the same referendum simultaneously
gave popular (and retroactive) permission for this abrogation of the
constitution. In February 1996, Akayev's proposed constitutional
amendments strengthening the office of president were approved by 94
percent of voters in a national referendum.
Data as of March 1996
|
|