Kyrgyzstani presidential election, 2009

Kyrgyz presidential election, 2009
Kyrgyzstan
23 July 2009

 
Nominee Kurmanbek Bakiev Almazbek Atambayev
Party Ak Jol SDPK
Popular vote 1,772,849 195,973
Percentage 76.12% 8.41%

President before election

Kurmanbek Bakiev
Ak Jol

Elected President

Kurmanbek Bakiev
Ak Jol

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Kyrgyzstan
Constitution
Legislative

A presidential election was held in Kyrgyzstan on 23 July 2009. The date was set after the constitutional court ruled that the extension of the presidential term from four to five years did not apply until the next presidential election, calling for elections by 25 October 2009; in response, a parliament committee proposed the July election date, which was then passed by the incumbent president Kurmanbek Bakiyev's Ak Jol-dominated parliament.[1] Bakiyev had previously announced his intention to run for reelection.[2] Bakiyev was re-nominated on 1 May 2009.[3]

On election day the main opposition candidate, Almazbek Atambayev, withdrew from the contest, citing his belief that fraud was employed extensively and thus considers the election illegitimate. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also claimed that Bakiyev had unfair advantages in terms of superior media coverage of his campaign, and vote rigging. Eventually, Bakiyev was declared the winner of the election with around 78% of the vote. An opposition rally on election day was broken up by Kyrgyz police.

Candidates

A student rally in Ala-Too Square in early July for Atambaev

On 20 April 2009, the United Opposition announced its candidate Almazbek Atambayev, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, the only opposition party represented in parliament.[4] Another opposition politician, former defence minister Ismail Isakov, announced on 19 May 2009 that he would withdraw from the race to improve Atambayev's chances, reducing the field from 18[5] to 17 potential candidates.[6]

Apart from Bakiyev and Atambayev, three more candidacies were approved: Those of Toktayym Ümötalieva (chairwoman of the Association of Nongovernmental and Nonprofit Organizations), physician Jengishbek Nazaraliev and Temir Sariev.[7]

Bakiev's advertising campaign consisted primarily of television ads, billboards, and paper fliers in windows of stores, companies, and kiosks. Nazaraliev's advertising campaign consisted mainly of propaganda fliers and journals passed out to residences in Kyrgyzstan, as well as small paper advertisements stuck to walls and posts throughout Bishkek. Atambaev held rallies and also had paper advertisements posted. Motuev had at least one billboard, near ZUM.

Election day

A billboard in Bishkek advertising Nurlan Motuyev for president in both Kyrghyz and Russian

On polling day Atambayev withdrew his candidacy claiming widespread fraud; he stated: "Due to massive, unprecedented violations, we consider these elections illegitimate and a new election should be held."[8] Independent candidate Jenishbek Nazaraliev also withdrew on election day.[9] The OSCE stated that Bakiyev gained an "unfair advantage" and that the media bias "did not allow voters to make an informed choice." Additionally, they found that the election was "marred by many problems and irregularities", citing ballot stuffing and problems with the vote counting.[10]

An opposition rally of 1,000 people in Balykchy during election day was broken up by riot police.[8]

Results

A billboard in Bishkek advertising Bakiev for the election in Kyrgyzstan, reading "Bakiev of course". The man depicted is supposed to represent a subset of his constituency.

The election turnout was reported at 79.3%.[11] As of 22:00 local time in Kyrgyzstan on 26 July, 2009 (with 2,282 of 2,330 polling districts reporting), Bakiev had won the election with 77.81% of the vote.[12] Earlier in the day (00:40 local time), the results showed the same number of districts reporting, but the numbers were significantly different, showing that Bakiev had won with 82.62% of the vote.[13]

The day after the election the opposition has said it has planned more protests.[14]

 Summary of the 23 July 2009 Kyrgyzstani presidential election results
Candidates Votes %
Kurmanbek Bakiev 1,772,849 76.12
Almaz Atambaev 195,973 8.41
Temir Sariev 157,005 6.74
Toktayym Ümötalieva 26,640 1.14
Nurlan Motuev 21,724 0.93
Jengishbek Nazaraliev 19,283 0.83
Against everyone 108,553 4.66
Reported total (turnout 79.3%) 2,302,027 98.83
Source: CEC, АКИpress

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2009 presidential election in Kyrgyzstan.

References

External resources

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