2015 Kyrgyz parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Kyrgyzstan on 4 October 2015.

2015 Kyrgyz parliamentary election

4 October 2015
All 120 seats in the Supreme Council 61 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	58.89% ( 2.11 pp)
Party Leader % Seats ± SDPK Chynybai Tursunbekov 27.35 38 +12 Respublika–Ata Zhurt Ömürbek Babanov Kamchybek Tashiev 20.08 28 -23 Kyrgyzstan Party Kanatbek Isaev 12.93 18 New Onuguu–Progress Bakyt Torobayev 9.30 13 New Bir Bol Altynbek Sulaymanov 8.52 12 New Ata Meken Omurbek Tekebayev 7.72 11 -7 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Map of the election results by regions
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Temir Sariyev Independent Sooronbay Jeenbekov Independent

A school building being used as a polling place during the 2015 election

Electoral system

The 120 seats in the Supreme Council were elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency, with an electoral threshold of 7% on the national level, as well as 0.7 % on each of the nine provinces. No party is allowed to hold more than 65 seats.[1] Party lists were required to have at least 30% of the candidates from each gender, and every fourth candidate had to be of a different gender. Each list was also required to have at least 15% of the candidates being from ethnic minorities.[1]

Biometric voter registration was introduced following claims of vote rigging in previous elections.[2]

Campaign

Several political parties were formed in the run-up to the elections, often as an attempt by wealthy Kyrgyz to further their own interests.[2] Incumbent Prime Minister Temir Sariyev claimed that places on party lists were sold to bidders, with rumours circulating that a high place on a party's list cost between $500,000 and £1,000,000.[2]

Over 10% of prospective candidates were prevented from running due to criminal convictions, whilst one party's leader, a former boxer, was banned after it was claimed they beat up a rival candidate.[2]

Conduct

Although there were some reports of voter fraud,[3] the OSCE mission stated that the elections had been "lively and competitive" and "unique in this region", whilst the PACE mission stated that voters had "made their choice freely among a large number of contestants."[4]

However, the OSCE noted problems with the biometric voter registration, with many people not having registered in time to receive their ID cards.[4] The Council of Europe raised concerns regarding transparency of campaigns and party financing, stating that it should be improved.[4]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Social Democratic Party	435,968	27.35	38	+12
	Respublika–Ata Zhurt	320,115	20.08	28	–23
	Kyrgyzstan Party	206,094	12.93	18	New
	Onuguu–Progress	148,279	9.30	13	New
	Bir Bol	135,875	8.52	12	New
	Ata Meken Socialist Party	123,055	7.72	11	–7
	United Kyrgyzstan–Emgek	97,869	6.14	0	0
	Zamandash	43,405	2.72	0	0
	Uluu Kyrgyzstan	23,899	1.50	0	New
	Ar-Namys	12,807	0.80	0	–25
	Meken Yntymagy	12,679	0.80	0	New
	Congress of the Peoples of Kyrgyzstan	9,619	0.60	0	New
	Aalam	6,398	0.40	0	New
	Azattyk	5,355	0.34	0	New
Against all		12,428	0.78	–	–
Total		1,593,845	100.00	120	0
Valid votes		1,593,845	98.01
Invalid/blank votes		32,410	1.99
Total votes		1,626,255	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		2,761,297	58.89
Source: CEC

References

1. Electoral system IPU
2. Voters celebrate Kyrgyzstan’s democratic experiment Financial Times, 4 October 2015
3. Social Democrats Leading In Closely Watched Kyrgyz Vote Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, 4 October 2015
4. Monitors Praise Kyrgyz Elections Won By Social Democrats Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, 5 October 2015