Holidays of Kyrgyzstan - Constitution Day

On May 5, Kyrgyzstan celebrates Constitution Day of the Kyrgyz Republic. This is the main law of the country, replacing the old one adopted in 1978 in 1993. The country's Constitution has been changed several times, reflecting new historical and political realities. In 1926, the Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed. In 1929, the first Constitution was adopted in Kyrgyzstan. When the Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic became a republic of the Soviet Union, there was a need to change the basic law. In 1937, a new Constitution came into force. It is characteristic that the Constitution of 1937, recognizing Kyrgyzstan as a union republic, took into account the national characteristics of life. In 1978, the country began to live under the new Constitution. It was published in Russian, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek languages. The document established the main aspects of the political system of the republic: - universal suffrage by secret ballot; - the rights, responsibilities, and freedoms of citizens are spelled out; - the political system of society is spelled out in detail. The document existed until 1993. The political changes that followed changed all aspects of life in the republic. On May 5, 1993, the country began to live according to the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. It was a difficult period in the fate of the country. The main document was changed several times to strengthen presidential power. In 1994, a clause was introduced on holding referendums on significant issues of public life. Legislative power was delegated to a bicameral parliament, consisting of: - Legislative Assembly (35 people), - Assembly of People's Representatives (70 people). In 1996, amendments were adopted that assigned enormous rights to the President (to appoint officials, dissolve parliament, etc.). The opposition accused President Akaev of usurping power. In 2005, elections were held in Kyrgyzstan. Only pro-government forces entered parliament. Protests began and ended in a coup. Kurmanbek Bakiyev came to power and decided to develop a new Constitution. The law was adopted in 2006, but the Constitutional Court overturned it, leaving the old Constitution (as amended in 2003) in force. A new version of the basic law was adopted in a referendum and approved by the President in 2007. In 2010, a coup d'état (the second) took place in the country. The Provisional Government came to power. The country became a parliamentary republic. In the same year, a new Constitution was developed and introduced in Kyrgyzstan. Its main provisions: - The President is elected for 6 years, his rights are limited; - any party cannot occupy more than 65 seats in parliament (out of 120); - respect for human rights is declared. The Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic has such a difficult history. It reflects all the processes that have taken place in the country since the beginning of the 20th century.