Voters in Kyrgyzstan overwhelmingly backed amending the constitution to shift some presidential powers to the prime minister.
A package of 26 proposed amendments were being asked to approve with a simple “y” or “no” vote on December 11.
Citing the Central Election Commission chairperson, Ms. Nurzhan Shaildabekova, Russian news agency Interfax reports 80 percent of voters backed the measures and just over 42 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.
The most controversial proposal that Kyrgyz were voting on was a proposal to strengthen the authority of the prime minister while weakening the president.
One proposed amendment would allow the prime minister, with parliament's approval, to appoint and dismiss cabinet ministers — a power that now rests with the president.
The wording of another indicates that it would also enable the prime minister to appoint and dismiss local administration chiefs without waiting for a proposal from the local council, which is currently required.
And under an amendment to Article 64 of the constitution, the president would no longer chair the Defense Council — essentially the head of the military and law-enforcement agencies in the country.
Kyrgyzstan is the only country in Central Asia with a single-term presidency.
According to Russian news agency RBC, the amendments strengthening the authority of the prime minister will take effect only in December next year.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz Service reports the amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman — a change that would effectively ban gay marriages — had garnered wide attention.
The measure parallels related legislation making its way through parliament that toughens punishments for promoting “a homosexual way of life” and “nontraditional sexual relations.” The bill reportedly passed a first reading in parliament but has not been given final approval.
Neither same-sex marriage, nor homosexuality more broadly, have much support among most Kyrgyz and the issue has been condemned by some Islamic clerics and nationalist groups, who view it as Western values being imported into the country, according to RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service.
Kyrgyzstan has adopted a new constitution three times since it gained independence in the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
The first post-Soviet constitution was introduced in 1993 and the second was passed by referendum in 2007.
The current constitution, approved by referendum in June 2010, formally changed the country’s political system, giving more authority to parliament and limiting the power of the president.
