VOA常速英语2007-Kyrgyzstan's President Dissolves Parliament

By Anya Ardayeva
Moscow
22 October 2007

Kyrgyzstan's president has dissolved his country's parliament, a day after a referendum in which voters approved broad constitutional amendments¹. Anya Ardayeva reports for VOA from Moscow a date for elections has not yet been set.

The head of the Central Electoral Commission said more than 70 percent of voters approved the new constitution in Sunday's referendum, with about 80 percent of registered voters taking part in the poll.

The constitutional changes will eliminate the direct election of individual candidates for parliament, and institute a proportional representation system instead.

Observers say that could hurt the country's smaller parties and independent politicians.

Opponents of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev claim the vote was an attempt by the country's leader to sideline the opposition². They say it will allow his political allies - and his party, Ak Zhol, formed earlier this month - to seize control of the parliament. But President Bakiyev maintains that the changes give more power to the people.

Other changes to the constitution include giving parliament more power in forming the government, and limiting the president's ability to dismiss parliament. It will also increase the number of lawmakers.

Editor-in-chief Fyodor Lukyanov, of Moscow's "Russia In Global Affairs Magazine", says dissolving Parliament is not likely to bring much needed stability to the Central Asian state. "We have seen many different kinds of opposition to Bakiyev's rule emerging and disappearing, and, now, as I know, there is a new opposition movement there against the constitutional changes and against Bakiyev's attempts to strengthen presidential power," he said.

Lukyanov says he foresees further political upheaval³ in Kyrgyzstan. "I am afraid that we will face many new crises, also many new legislative⁴ and political changes in the whole system before Kyrgyzstan will approach a new shape of status quo," he said.

The president has criticized the parliament for blocking reforms and provoking political turmoil⁵. His critics say the parliament should have been dissolved earlier, and that this could have helped to put a stop to political infighting and deal with urgent issues such as crime and poverty.

In 2005, protesters ousted⁶ Kyrgyzstan's long time leader Askar Akayev and brought Kurmanbek Bakiyev to power. But instability continued with a continuing standoff between the president and the parliament.

Lukyanov says it is quite possible that the president's decision to dissolve parliament will lead to another wave of protests. "The street protest could be used or not used by people in the establishment fighting each other. In Kyrgyzstan, of course, the background is not very favorable for stability. So, it is quite possible that the politicians will turn to people's protests, which, I think, will be more organized, orchestrated from both than will be, so to say, spontaneous," he said.

Kyrgyzstan is strategically important both for the U.S. and Russia, as both countries have military bases there.

1 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

4 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

5 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

6 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。