Kyrgyzstan's Social Democrats To Establish Ruling Coalition

Kyrgyz President President Almazbek Atambaev 9file photo)

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has officially asked the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) to create a ruling coalition.

Atambaev met with the leader of the SDPK parliamentary group, Chynybai Tursunbekov, on October 29 and told him to establish a ruling coalition.

The SDPK won the country's parliamentary elections on October 4, receiving almost 28 percent of the votes.

Six political parties passed the threshold to enter the 120-member unicameral legislature, which is known as Jogorku Kenesh (The Supreme Council).

According to Kyrgyz legislation, if none of the parties receive more than 60 seats a ruling coalition must be established.

According to preliminary estimates by Kyrgyz observers, such parties as Kyrgyzstan (with 12.8 percent of the votes); Onuguu-Progress (9.3 percent) and Ata-Meken (Fatherland, 7.7 percent) could all join the SDPK in a government.