Kyrgyz pres assigns creation of coalition to Respublika Party

BISHKEK, December 4 (Itar-Tass) -- President Roza Otunbayeva of
Kyrgyzstan has assigned the creation of a parliamentary majority coalition
to the Respublika Party, a representative of the press service of the
Kyrgyz president told Itar-Tass on Saturday.
"The Respublika Party has been assigned to create a coalition in
accordance with the Kyrgyz legislation," the Kyrgyz official said. Omurbek
Babanov, leader of the Respublika Party, was given 15 working days for its
creation. If the Respublka Party fails to fulfil the task, the MPs will
have the right to create a coalition on their own. Otherwise the recently
elected parliament will be dissolved, and new elections will be held in
the country.
Some time ago Ms. Otunbayeva assigned the Social Democratic Party, led
by Almazbek Atambayev, to create a majority coalition. The Respublika
Party and the Ata-Meken (Fatherland) Party joined the Social Democrats.
During the election of a speaker the coalition suggested Omurbek
Tekebayev, leader of Ata-Meken. He was not supported by the MPs, however,
and it was announced on the next day that the coalition was breaking up.
The parliamentary elections were held in Kyrgyzstan on October 10,
this year. 29 political parties were vying for 120 seats in a new
parliament, but only five of them managed to overcome the 5 per cent
barrier. These included the Ata-Zhurt (Native Land) Party (28 seats), the
Social Democratic Party (26 seats), Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party (25 seats),
the Respublika Party (23 seats) and the Ata-Meken Party (18 seats).
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