DUSHANBE, January 6, Asia-Plus –  Thursday January 5, Kyrgyzstan’s President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed an edict “On Measures on Preparations for Referendum in Kyrgyzstan”.  But the date of referendum has not yet been set.  

The edict provides for carrying out of explanatory work among the population about features of state system under different forms of government and other issues related to constitutional reforms.  The edict also provides for graduality of measures of preparation and carrying out of explanatory work – at first, among officials with public service and local governments and then among the population. 

The Ministry of Justice is to coordinate this work through formation of working groups comprising representatives from leadership, lawyers, representatives from political parties and public associations, civil society for further sending them to the provinces to carry out explanatory work among the population.

The Kyrgyz people will be asked, “What system of government does Kyrgyzstan need?”

            On December 21, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said Kyrgyzstan would hold a referendum next year that will ask citizens if they want to weaken the powers of the presidency in favor of parliament.  Speaking to the Constitutional Council, which he chairs, Bakiyev said the Kyrgyz people would be asked whether they want a presidential, a parliamentary, or a presidential-parliamentary system of government.  

The president has repeatedly signaled that he favors postponing constitutional reforms up until 2009.