Kyrgyzstan president win new constitutional powers
Voters in Kyrgyzstan headed to the polls on Sunday for a constitutional referendum that is expected to see President Sadyr Zhaparov’s powers expanded and allow him to run for office a second time.
According to the preliminary results of the electoral commission, around 78% of the voters supported the constitutional change.
The referendum comes three months after the election of the populist leader, following the removal of his predecessor amid protests.
The change would reduce the size of parliament by 25%, to 90 seats, and give Zhaparov the power to appoint judges and heads of police agencies.
Who is Sadyr Zhaparov?
A former member of parliament and senior official, Zhaparov was serving a prison sentence last year on charges of kidnapping a regional governor as part of a political protest.
He was released by protesters who contested the results of the October parliamentary elections and his sentence has since been overturned.
Immediately after his release, Zhaparov mobilized protesters to remove President Sooronbai Jeenbekov and later assumed command as the interim leader of the Central Asian country.
In the January elections that brought Zhaparov to power, voters also approved plans to hold a referendum on whether presidential powers should be increased.
Kyrgyzstan, a country of 6.5 million people bordering China, relies heavily on financial support from Russia.
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