Kyrgyzstan returns to super-presidential times

AKIPRESS.COM - The prevailing majority of citizens of Kyrgyzstan have approved a new draft of Constitution which re-distributes power in favor of the President. The results of elections were not a surprise: 80% of voters in the 10 January referendum voted for the presidential model of governance.
The only risk for the referendum could be a low voter turnout. The binding voter threshold is 30%. By 6.00 p.m. the threshold was passed.
The turnout of voters has made 39.12% in the snap presidential elections and the referendum on model of governance on January 10, 2021. It is the lowest official voter turnout in history of the country. Such low turnout could be explained by absence of vote buying, freezing temperature and pandemic.
The voter turnout made 57.3% in 4 October 2020 parliamentayr elections. It was 56% in 2017 presidential elections, 42% in 2016 referendum, 59% in October 2015 parliamentary elections, 56% in 2010 parliamentary elections, 70% on referendum on a new Constitution in June 2010, 79% in 2009 presidential elections, 72% in 2007 parliamentary elections.
What will change? President Japarov explained his initiative to change the Constitution with that the President had real power for the last 30 years, but did not take responsibility.
Responsibility of the President is the only reason why Kyrgyzstan changes the Constitution. Japarov admits the new Constitution will extend the powers of the President. But he also says that the Parliament, judicial power still have broad powers.
The new draft of Constitution is unclear about concrete responsibility of the President. The impeachment procedure has been made more complex.
The Prime Minister's post has been kept, but it is a kind of a whipping boy now.
The Persident realizes executive power. The structure and members of the cabinet are determined by the President. The President presides at the government meetings. The President bears personal responsibility for outcomes of work of the cabinet of ministers and executive power.
However, if the Parliament declares the report on implementation of the national budget unsatisfactory, the President will consider responsibility of the cabinet of ministers.
So, the President bears personal responsibility for everything, but when time of responsibility comes, the President should punish members the cabinet. In other words, the President remains out of zone of responsibility for the outcomes of work of the cabinet.
According to critics of a new draft of Constitution, such discrepancies are destructive.
What history says?
President Akaev changed the Constitution of 1993 wording 5 times - in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003. All these changes were aimed to strengthen his powers.
During Bakiev's tenure the Constitution was changed 3 times - twice through Parliament and one through the referendum. The first two years of his presidency were spent for protection of Akaev's constitution with absolute president's power. All power was concentrated in president's hands. The ruling Ak Jol party had majority in Parliament.
The new Constitution formalizes super-presidential system. Such super-presidential models existed during Akaev and Bakiev, last years of Atambayev's presidency.
Ruling regimes in Kyrgyzstan have tried all possible options of political system. But the main problem that is not recognized is not in provisions of the Constitution or lack of ideal laws...