Today, December 17, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov opened the first meeting of the deputies of the new eighth convocation of the Jogorku Kenesh.
Members of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic were also present at this meeting.
The meeting was initiated by the Chairman of the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums of the KR, Tynchtyk Shainazarov, who presented the results of the elections. After that, the newly elected deputies took their oath.
Here are the main points from the president's speech (free translation):
“Dear deputies of the eighth convocation of the Jogorku Kenesh!
First of all, I congratulate you on your election! You are now representatives of the people, and your oath implies conscientious service to the interests of the people.
I hope you will be faithful to this oath.
I am confident that you will work with sincerity and selflessness for the sake of the people and the state.
Today I am here because this parliament is special: it was created under new laws and passed through a popular vote.
I congratulate you on taking the oath and want to discuss what cooperation lies ahead.
I would like to briefly remind you of the history of our parliament.
You know that the legislative body that adopted the Declaration of Independence went down in history as the “legendary parliament,” which became the foundation for the democratic development of Kyrgyzstan.
With the adoption of the new Constitution, the parliament was named Jogorku Kenesh.
This parliament of 350 deputies was able to break the totalitarian regime during the transitional period and adopted important laws that became the foundation of sovereign Kyrgyzstan.
Unfortunately, conflicts between the government and the parliament led to its dissolution.
In 1995, the Jogorku Kenesh of the first convocation was created, which became a bicameral parliament in 2000.
Then, in 2005, deputies of a unicameral parliament were elected.
I was one of the deputies and have since observed political events, studying their pros and cons.
The Jogorku Kenesh of the third convocation was dissolved in 2007.
After that, the Constitution was amended again, and a new parliament was elected based on a party system.
However, this parliament also did not last long.
In 2010, a revolution occurred, and this parliament was also dissolved, after which a parliamentary form of government was introduced in the country.
Unfortunately, in the conditions of a parliamentary system, abuses began to emerge, and the level of political corruption significantly increased.
For example, in 2010, leading the “Ata Jurt” party, I was elected as a deputy for the second time.
While in parliament, I witnessed numerous disorders and corruption.
The parties that entered the Jogorku Kenesh effectively divided the country among themselves.
As a result, positions became a subject of trade.
No one considered personnel policy, and the country lost many professionals.
This problem affected even the lower levels of power.
Ministers, starting with the Prime Minister, were subordinate not to the President, but to the factions of the parliament.
Each deputy effectively became a separate president, appointing ministers.
As a result, the country found itself in stagnation for ten years, mired in conflicts.
Unfortunately, this system continued to exist until 2020.
As a result, as you know, our state was on the brink of collapse.
The people lost trust not only in the parliament but in all branches of power.
Members of organized criminal groups became deputies.
The word “elections” evoked only rejection.
Since gaining independence, words and deeds have often not coincided.
Politicians engaged in populism without thinking about the consequences for the state.
We reached the point where we assessed the courage of deputies by their statements rather than their actions.
The next generation risked growing up on empty cries.
Fewer and fewer people were thinking about the future of the country.
The people also found themselves in a state of apathy, losing trust in anyone.
Some deputies wrote laws in their own interests.
And some received money from oligarchs to pass laws in their favor.
This is political corruption.
Many of you, newly elected deputies, may ask your experienced colleagues about what is happening.
Dear deputies, in conditions of change and rapidly changing times, let us develop Kyrgyzstan with new perspectives.
Do not repeat past mistakes.
Serve the interests of the people.
Unfortunately, one of the reasons for our country's lagging behind is personnel policy.
Since independence, the issue of personnel training has not been raised.
Only through connections could one get a job in the civil service.
As a result, we lost qualified specialists who went abroad.
That is why in 2023 we opened the “Akyilman” school in Cholpon-Ata.
We select talented children from all over the country, develop their potential, and direct them to study at leading universities.
Upon graduation, they will be employed in government institutions.
We have already adopted a law that has come into effect.
This is done so that graduates do not remain without work.
Currently, 260 children are studying in Cholpon-Ata.
In the future, it is planned to open similar schools in seven regions, and construction is already underway in the Talas and Jalal-Abad regions.
Each lyceum will be able to accept at least 300 students.
Thus, we are preparing the future personnel who will govern the state.
I hope that in the future, graduates of these schools will replace us.
Why do I say this?
Previously, there was a practice where deputies were subordinate to factions and demanded the appointment of their people to positions.
If someone refused, they were criticized.
Do not repeat this mistake.
If there are shortcomings, criticize them, but if there is corruption, speak about it openly.
If an official is involved in corruption, punishment awaits him.
We will continue to fight against corruption.
If you help uncover such facts, we will support you.
But, as I said, stop pressuring the ministers.
If you have a worthy candidate, direct him to the personnel reserve.
There are 590 specialists registered in the Unified Personnel Reserve.
We select candidates exclusively on a competitive basis.
We will continue this practice until the graduates of the “Akyilman” schools arrive.
Dear deputies, I would like to draw attention to one more problem.
Some deputies, discussing reports from the Cabinet of Ministers, start bargaining.
For example, “pave a kilometer of road in my village, or I will vote against the report.”
I have banned such actions.
Think about how many resources are spent on one kilometer of road.
If we build 10 kilometers at once, we can open asphalt plants and quarries.
The state will save funds.
In the future, we will lay roads of no less than 10 kilometers.
Similar cases are observed in the construction of schools and kindergartens.
Even now, in some villages, additional buildings are being constructed, while neighboring ones have old schools.
Let us not allow such injustice and use budget funds efficiently.
We will renew social facilities in all regions.
When you form committees and factions, I ask you not to insist on the presence of ministers at all meetings.
In most cases, it is possible to work with their deputies.
Ministers should deal with the affairs of their ministries.
I urge you, deputies, to show respect for the Parliament.
200,000 more people came to the elections, but the turnout remains low.
We need to analyze how to increase voter activity.
Some colleagues talk about mandatory participation in elections.
We should pay attention to international experience.
In some countries, like Singapore, participation in elections is mandatory.
We can adapt such norms to our mentality.
Political corruption within the framework of the new system has been suppressed.
But in local government bodies, this has not yet been achieved.
For example, in Tokmok and Kara-Balta, there were cases of corruption.
In the ayil okmotu of Novopavlovka, the same park was shown as newly built for three years in a row.
But the park was never created.
Leaders who allow corruption will be punished.
The root of all problems lies in opaque elections and corruption.
Let us leave this in the past.
Let us unite our efforts to raise the political culture in the country.
The people will follow us if we set a good example.
Citizens will stop selling their votes for small money.
We can implement online voting, but it is premature now.
In the future, when citizens become more conscious, such formats can be introduced.
Let us continue to work on improving the Electoral Code.
Dear deputies, let us work together, “rolling up our sleeves.”
Let us not miss the historic opportunity to build a new Kyrgyzstan.
Our people see and understand the potential for growth.
We have already started launching large projects.
The rate of economic growth is 10 percent; we are among the top three leaders in the world.
By the end of the year, we expect the consolidated budget to reach 1.2 trillion.
The external debt has decreased from 54 to 25 percent of GDP.
We have enough funds to pay off debts.
We will fulfill our debt obligations under the established conditions.
By 2035, we will be free from debts.
Gold and foreign exchange reserves have grown to 8.5 billion dollars.
In 2020, they were just over 2 billion dollars.
If we clearly fulfill our duties, we will justify the hopes of the people.
Work on the quality development of legislative proposals.
Let the judiciary strive for justice.
Then we will succeed and move the country forward.
We have updated the building of the Parliament and acquired new cars for the deputies.
If there are deputies among you who do not have housing, we will provide apartments.
Creating the necessary conditions for work, I urge you to work honestly for the benefit of the people.
Good luck in fulfilling your promises!
May the path of the Jogorku Kenesh of the VIII convocation be successful and constructive!
Once again, I congratulate you on your election to the Jogorku Kenesh!
Thank you for your attention!”
