Constitutional Chamber declares postponement of parliamentary elections by Parliament of Kyrgyzstan lawful

AKIPRESS.COM - The panel of judges of the Constitutional Chamber under the Supreme Court today declared adoption of the constitutional law by the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan postponing repeat parliamentary elections as lawful.
The claim was submitted in November by citizens Nurbek Kasymbekov, Talaibek Usubaliev and Reforma party seeking to declare adoption of the constitutional law by the Parliament that postponed parliamentary elections set for December 20 as unlawful.
Having considered the claim today, the Constitutional Chamber has not found grounds for declaration of the adopted law contradictory to the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Chamber said postponement of the parliamentary elections was exceptional necessity in the period of instability.
The Constitutional Chamber recognized at the same time the Parliament delayed the parliamentary elections for a longer period than needed without serious reasons. However, the Chamber did not see this as the basis for recognition of such decision as unlawful.
As for the term of prolongation of the term of the Parliament, the Constitutional Chamber said the term was extended for a significant period, but the Constitution defines the conditions of termination of powers - the day when newly elected members of the next Parliament are sworn in and the first session of the new Parliament.
This way the Constitutional Chamber dismissed the claim.
Klara Sooronkulova (Reforma party) said at session earlier that the postponement of the parliamentary elections was the plan of the current authorities for usurpation of power. She referred to the conclusion of the Venice Commission that said the Parliament with extended term in such way does not have right to carry out constitutional reform.
On October 21, the Central Election Commission scheduled the repeat parliamentary elections for December 20. On October 22, the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan passed the draft law in 3 readings that allowed to delay the parliamentary elections until June 1 due to the need to carry out consitutional reform. Sadyr Japarov signed the law the same day.