New Kygryz parliament backs Bakiyev, lower house of former parliament steps down
{{date|March 28, 2005}}
[[Image:Bischkek.jpg|180px|right|Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan]]The newly elected and protested [[w:Kyrgyzstan|Kyrgyz]] parliament today voted to back opposition leader [[w:Kurmanbek Bakiyev|Kurmanbek Bakiyev]] as prime minister, as the reconvening former parliament had done days before. The lower house of the former parliament also formally stepped down, although the upper house has not done so yet.

Deposed president [[w:Askar Akayev|Askar Akayev]] issued a statement from [[w:Russia|Russia]] in response, accusing the new leaders of disgracing the country and ruining the economy.

In response to the endorsement, Bakiyev issued a statement acknowledging the newly elected parliament as the legitimate one.

"I can be reproached for saying earlier that the February and March polls were not legitimate. I said so. But in this parliament we have questions to only 15 to 20 constituencies, no one is saying that all deputies have to go," Bakiyev explained.

Speaker of the outgoing lower chamber of the former parliament, Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, said that the decision was "a political, not a legislative decision, made for the sake of stabilizing the situation. ...If needed, the Legislative Assembly may convene again."

Despite the situation, Omurbek Tekebayev, newly elected speaker of the new parliament, told Kyrgyz television that Akayev was still legally the president of the country and should return, if only to complete a formal resignation. "New presidential elections can only be called after talks with Akayev, otherwise it will be another anticonstitutional move," he said.

Opposition leaders have offered Akayev immunity and said that he would not be impeached or otherwise prosecuted if he returned to the country.

==Related stories==
{{wikipediapar|Kyrgyz parliamentary elections, 2005}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Kulov declares newly elected parliament legitimate, Kyrgyz parliamentary conflict deepens|date=March 27, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=New Kyrgyz election scheduled after lightning coup
|date=March 27, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Multiple parliaments meet in Kyrgyzstan, legitimacy uncertain
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Police, militia confront looters in Bishkek, leaders say city now calm
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Five dead, over 200 injured as looting continues in Bishkek
|date=March 25, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Akayev flees Kyrgyzstan as protesters seize control of Bishkek
|date=March 24, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=New Kyrgz interior minister says force may be used, riot police clash with protesters in Bishkek
|date=March 23, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Kyrgyz government declares elections valid, refuses to declare state of emergency as opposition cements control of the south
|date=March 23, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Kyrgyz president orders election probe as protesters seize control of second city
|date=March 22, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Violent protests break out in Kyrgyzstan over allegedly rigged parliamentary elections
|date=March 21, 2005}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/CSM/story?id=620638
|title=Kyrgyz politicians strike deal that could undo 'tulip' revolt
|author=Fred Weir
|pub=Christian Science Monitor
|date=March 28, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4387479.stm
|title=Kyrgyz political stand-off eases
|author=
|pub=BBC
|date=March 28, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/28/content_2753726.htm
|title=Lower house of old Kyrgyz parliament suspends work
|author=
|pub=Xinhua
|date=March 28, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10117562
|title=Kyrgyzstan parliament backs Bakiyev
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 28, 2005}}

  

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Published]]
Bishkek, capital of KyrgyzstanThe newly elected and protested Kyrgyz parliament today voted to back opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev as prime minister, as the reconvening former parliament had done days before. The lower house of the former parliament also formally stepped down, although the upper house has not done so yet.

Deposed president Askar Akayev issued a statement from Russia in response, accusing the new leaders of disgracing the country and ruining the economy.

In response to the endorsement, Bakiyev issued a statement acknowledging the newly elected parliament as the legitimate one.

"I can be reproached for saying earlier that the February and March polls were not legitimate. I said so. But in this parliament we have questions to only 15 to 20 constituencies, no one is saying that all deputies have to go," Bakiyev explained.

Speaker of the outgoing lower chamber of the former parliament, Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, said that the decision was "a political, not a legislative decision, made for the sake of stabilizing the situation. ...If needed, the Legislative Assembly may convene again."

Despite the situation, Omurbek Tekebayev, newly elected speaker of the new parliament, told Kyrgyz television that Akayev was still legally the president of the country and should return, if only to complete a formal resignation. "New presidential elections can only be called after talks with Akayev, otherwise it will be another anticonstitutional move," he said.

Opposition leaders have offered Akayev immunity and said that he would not be impeached or otherwise prosecuted if he returned to the country.

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Asia Kyrgyzstan Elections Politics and conflicts Published