Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31
August (1991)
Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993 note: amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Jumabek IBRAIMOV (since NA December 1998) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held November or December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Askar AKAYEV 75%; note - elections were held early which gave the two opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom was a major rival
Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held 20 February 2000); Legislative Assembly - last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held 20 February 2000) election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - not all of the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly; Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president; Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party ; Agrarian
Party of Kyrgyzstan ; Banner National Revival Party or
ASABA ; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan or PKK
; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or
DDK ; Dignity Party ;
Fatherland or Alta Mekel Party ; Justice Party
; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of
Free Kyrgyzstan) or ErK ; Movement for the
People's Salvation ; Mutual Help Movement or
Ashar ; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE
; Peasant Party ; Republican Popular
Party of Kyrgyzstan ; Social Democratic Party or
PSD
Political pressure groups and leaders: Council of Free Trade Unions;
Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights ; National Unity
Democratic Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs