Felix Kulov, the former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, expressed his opinion on the legal and political aspects concerning possible early presidential elections. He explained in detail how these issues are regulated by current legislation and why he believes there are no grounds for holding them at this time.
Kulov reminded that according to the constitutional law on elections, regular presidential elections should be held on the third Sunday of October in the year when the president's term expires. The Jogorku Kenesh must appoint them no later than four months before the voting, which is a fundamental norm.
As for the current president, Sadyr Japarov, his term lasts six years, starting in January 2021 and ending in January 2027. Based on this, the electoral cycle should correspond to the end of his term.
Regarding early elections, the same law states that they can only be appointed after the president's powers have been terminated. This means that while the president is fulfilling his duties, it is impossible to announce early elections. The grounds for terminating the president's powers are defined in the Constitution, including cases of impeachment or accountability for violations. In case of contentious issues, only the Constitutional Court of the Kyrgyz Republic can provide a final legal assessment.
Furthermore, Kulov noted that Kyrgyzstan has serious international obligations. The country is currently chairing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and preparing for an important summit, which requires significant organizational and diplomatic efforts. It is necessary to conduct consultations in advance, coordinate positions, and ensure security.
The World Nomad Games are also expected during the same period, which is another large-scale event that requires resources for infrastructure, hospitality, and logistics. All of this demands the state's focused efforts.
Therefore, in Kulov's opinion, adding a national-level electoral campaign during such a period would be extremely challenging. He believes that holding elections within the established constitutional deadlines would be more reasonable.
Kulov also expressed agreement with Japarov's opinion that he already has the support of the citizens. In this regard, he sees no reason to rush into elections. He is confident that Japarov will not have worthy opponents and suggests that he will successfully win the elections in January 2027," Kulov added.
