Trend European Desk Commentator Viktoriya Zhavoronkova
In Kyrgyzstan the vote counting for the presidential elections has been completed. It is unlikely that anyone is surprised with election results. Incumbent president Kurmanbek Bakiyev was reelected for the second term. Reelection of presidents often happens in post-Soviet countries. What does it mean? It is difficult to say whether it occurs as a result of falsification, limitation of democracy, people fearing change or genuinely being satisfied with the president's activity. There are significant grounds for reelection in every country.
What causes are they in Kyrgyzstan? Kyrgyzstan is a country with many internal problems. Quality of life in Kyrgyzstan is low. You could even say that the Kyrgyz people are poorly provided for. It is difficult to find a job in Kyrgyzstan. Many citizens go abroad for work. There were serious problems with the electric power supply in Kyrgyzstan in winter 2009. There are huge foreign debts exceeding the budget. It is necessary to solve these problems.
What has Bakiyev done to improve the situation in Kyrgyzstan? He has agreed with the USA about changing the status of Manas NATO base, situated in the territory of the international airport near Bishkek. Regarding the positive aspects of the base in Kyrgyzstan, experts refer to the presence of more jobs for local residents and the systematic payments to the Kyrgyz budget that must have risen after the base's status change. But we have yet to mention the negative aspects, including environmental pollution, the presence of a foreign military base in the Kyrgyz territory and accidents on the base as a result of which many Kyrgyz citizens died.
And there are even more significant energy problems. Electric power stations need to be built. But Kyrgyzstan lacks the funds to construct them. Bakiyev managed to get funds from Russia. But it is impossible to construct a hydro electric power station without affecting your neighbors' interests. Uzbekistan may suffer most of all. The appearance of an electric station in Kyrgyzstan would limit the entry of drinkable water to the neighboring country. It is sure to affect Uzbek agriculture. Kyrgyzstan is failing to construct alternative electric power stations due to a lack of raw materials for energy generation. It is unclear how this issue will be solved.
Many experts say that a well-thought and organized pre-election campaign and the opposition's failure to resist authority have been the major causes of Bakiyev's victory. The opposition joined the United People's Movement to represent the only candidate at elections. This candidate was Almazbek Atambayev, who recieved less than 10 percent of vote. This result may be considered a failure for the opposition.
Before elections Bakiyev's program was very intense. He held meetings and went to meetings. Roads and schools were constructed in Kyrgyzstan. Infrastructure was improved. People paid attention to these factors and Bakiyev managed to gain their sympathies.
There have been many problems in Kyrgyzstan. It is difficult to solve them in one presidential term. At present, it is too early to say whether the reelected Bakiyev will manage to cope with these problems. Kyrgyz voters trusted in Bakiyev and gave him another chance to show his worth and solve the numerous problems in Kyrgyzstan.
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