A constitutional referendum was held in Kyrgyzstan on 11 April 2021. The new constitution was approved by 85% of voters.
Background Following the 2020 parliamentary elections, protests started in October 2020 that led to the resignation of president Sooronbay Jeenbekov. In January 2021 a referendum on the form of government was held alongside presidential elections (won by Sadyr Japarov), with voters asked whether they would prefer a presidential system, a parliamentary system, or opposed both. Just over 84% voted in favour of a presidential system.
Work began on drafting a new constitution, which was debated in the Supreme Council in February 2021. The draft new constitution replaces a parliamentary system with a presidential one, with presidents limited to two five years terms instead of a single six-year term. It also reduces the number of seats in the Supreme Council from 120 to 90 and establishes a constitutional court. The changes were described by Associate Professor William Partlett of Melbourne Law School as moving "toward a form of presidentialism that is close to the authoritarian-style 'crown-presidentialism' in the post-Soviet Eurasian space."William Partlett, Kyrgyzstan’s 2021 Constitution: A Brief Comparative and Historical Analysis.
In March 2021 members of the Supreme Council passed a bill, scheduling a referendum on the new constitution for 11 April, the same day as local elections.Kyrgyzstan to hold constitution referendum on April 11 Interfax, 11 March 2021
Results
Aftermath The new constitution was adopted on 11 April 2021. President Japarov signed it on 5 May 2021..
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