At a meeting with Talant Mamytov, Chairman of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan, Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the Federation Council, said that the referendum on amendments to the Kyrgyz Constitution was a success.
"We closely follow the changes that are taking place in Kyrgyzstan, the political reforms. I want to congratulate you on the success of the referendum, which was held on April 11," Matvienko said during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly in St. Petersburg.
According to her, the delegation of the Federation Council on the results of the referendum in Kyrgyzstan noted that "everything was held at a high level, transparently and democratically." "Thus, a new serious step has been made to change the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, which is a fundamental law for any state," added the Speaker of the Federation Council.
On Sunday, April 11, a referendum on constitutional amendments was held in Kyrgyzstan, where 3.6 million voters are registered. Just over 37 percent of citizens took part, according to the latest figures, with about 79 percent approving the changes to the basic law.
The amendments drawn up by the members of the constitutional caucus provide for a significant increase in the powers of the president, a reduction in the rights of parliament and a reduction in its size from 120 to 90 people. In particular, the head of state will now have full control over the government, including the ability to appoint and dismiss ministers. In fact, Kyrgyzstan is transitioning from a presidential-parliamentary form of government to a presidential model.
Simultaneously with the referendum, Kyrgyzstan held elections of deputies to 420 city and village councils.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS