Parliamentary elections were held in Kyrgyzstan on 4 October 2015.

Electoral system The 120 seats in the Supreme Council were elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency, with an electoral threshold of 7% at the national level, with an additional requirement for parties to receive at least 0.7% of the vote in each of the nine provinces to win seats. No party was allowed to win more than 65 seats.Electoral system IPU Party lists were required to have at least 30% of the candidates from each gender and every fourth candidate had to be of a different gender. Each list was also required to have at least 15% of its candidates from ethnic minorities.

Biometric voter registration was introduced following claims of vote rigging in previous elections.

Campaign Several political parties were formed in the run-up to the elections, often as an attempt by wealthy Kyrgyz to further their own interests.Voters celebrate Kyrgyzstan’s democratic experiment Financial Times, 4 October 2015 Incumbent Prime Minister Temir Sariyev claimed that places on party lists were sold to bidders, with rumours circulating that a high place on a party's list cost between $500,000 and £1,000,000.

Over 10% of prospective candidates were prevented from running due to criminal convictions, whilst one party's leader, a former boxer, was banned after it was claimed they beat up a rival candidate.

Conduct Although there were some reports of voter fraud,Social Democrats Leading In Closely Watched Kyrgyz Vote Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, 4 October 2015 the OSCE mission stated that the elections had been "lively and competitive" and "unique in this region", whilst the PACE mission stated that voters had "made their choice freely among a large number of contestants."

However, the OSCE noted problems with the biometric voter registration, with many people not having registered in time to receive their ID cards.Monitors Praise Kyrgyz Elections Won By Social Democrats Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, 5 October 2015 The Council of Europe raised concerns regarding transparency of campaigns and party financing, stating that it should be improved.

Results

References