In Kyrgyzstan, a similar position existed in the early 90s but did not last long. The editorial team of Kaktus.media recalls how and why this post was abolished.
The History of the Vice-Presidency in Kyrgyzstan
The position of vice-president was established in December 1990 against the backdrop of reforms in the country. The first vice-president of the Kyrgyz SSR was Nasirdin Isanov, who came in second in the 1990 elections after Askar Akayev. However, in January 1991, he was appointed chairman of the Council of Ministers, and after the country declared independence on August 31, 1991, he became the first prime minister.Although the vice-president was envisioned at that time as a potential successor to the president, his actual role turned out to be vague. He did not have clearly defined functions and did not hold leading positions in the government or parliament. For example, German Kuznitsyev, while serving as vice-president, performed only symbolic tasks and had no influence on key decisions.
Political risks remained relevant: the presence of an official "heir" could be perceived as a threat to presidential power. This reflects the post-Soviet experience, where vice-presidents like Gennady Yanayev and Alexander Rutskoy used their positions for political maneuvering. In Kyrgyzstan, such scenarios were not observed, but concerns about "dual legitimacy" led to the abolition of the vice-presidency in 1993.
Contemporary Discussions on the Vice-Presidency
Since then, the question of restoring the vice-presidency in Kyrgyzstan has not been raised for a long time, neither under Askar Akayev nor under his successors. However, from time to time, proposals for its creation have emerged. For instance, after the "Tulip Revolution" of 2005, when Kurmanbek Bakiev and Felix Kulov formed an informal tandem to stabilize the situation. However, this cooperation quickly ended due to disagreements.In 2011, Rasul Umbetaliev proposed to formalize the idea of a tandem at the institutional level, suggesting that the vice-president should be the candidate who comes in second in the elections. This proposal resembled the American model, where the losing candidate becomes vice-president. However, this initiative remained at the discussion stage.
At the end of 2020, following political changes and the rise to power of Sadyr Japarov, the introduction of the vice-presidency was again discussed as part of the preparation of a new Constitution. Syrgak Kadyraliev, an associate professor at AUCA, proposed this position to take regional interests into account, but the idea was not supported by the majority of participants in the constitutional meeting. Ultimately, the new Constitution adopted in 2021 did not include the vice-presidency, leaving the traditional system with the head of parliament as the first deputy to the president.
Despite several proposals to restore the vice-presidency, none of them have been implemented, as there were concerns about repeating the negative experiences of the 90s, when the lack of clear rules led to conflicts.
Global Practices of the Vice-Presidency
The vice-presidency is typically created to ensure continuity of power and avoid a vacuum in the absence of the president. In countries with an established system, this mechanism allows the new vice-president to assume office immediately without delays or political bargaining.A classic example is the USA, where the vice-president plays a key role in both the executive branch and the legislative process, presiding over the Senate and having a decisive vote in case of a tie. This ensures stability and continuity.
In Latin America, for example, in Brazil, the vice-president automatically becomes president if the newly elected head of state resigns before taking office. This helps maintain the legitimacy of elections.
In some countries, the vice-presidency is used to strengthen presidential power, as was the case in Azerbaijan, where the position of first vice-president was held by the president's spouse, solidifying the dynastic principle of power inheritance.
Thus, the institution of the vice-presidency can serve as both a stabilizing and destabilizing factor in the political system. It is important to consider how the position relates to other elements of power to avoid unnecessary conflicts and strengthen political stability.
