The discussion of the timing of the presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan has become a relevant topic among politicians and experts. Some argue that the current president should wait until the end of his term, while others advocate for early elections. Each side has its own arguments, and at times they get tangled in legal nuances.
According to former Constitutional Court judge Klara Sooronkulova, "the presidential elections of 2021 were held under the old Constitution, while the new version was adopted on April 11, 2021. Therefore, in my opinion, after the adoption of the new Constitution, new elections should be held, as there have been changes in the powers and status of the president. However, we are not obliged to wait for the end of the current term to hold early elections."
Felix Kulov, for his part, emphasizes that "the Constitutional Law on Elections clearly states that the next presidential elections should take place on the third Sunday of October in the year when the term of office expires." Considering that Sadyr Japarov's term is six years and began in January 2021, it will end in January 2027. Thus, it is impractical to hold early elections before the end of his term.
Thus, the question arises: should we wait for the end of the term? On what grounds should decisions be made: under the old or new Constitution? From the moment of Sooronbay Jeenbekov's resignation or from the date of the new Constitution's signing by the Jogorku Kenesh? From January or from April 2021?
In this matter, Felix Sharshenbaevich is right: as long as the president performs his duties without complaints and does not plan to leave office, there is no need for early elections.
On one hand, the recent release of the four-part documentary "President," which summarizes Sadyr Japarov's five-year term, creates a sense that elections are just around the corner. The president's administration has prepared an entire album of one hundred photographs reflecting his activities since January 2025. Formally, this is related to the anniversary of his taking office, but unofficially it sets the public mood for the upcoming elections.
Experts, both local and international, are actively analyzing the reforms and achievements of the current president, making predictions about his future. Election issues are being discussed at various levels and from different perspectives.
On the other hand, the so-called info-gypsies have become more active, producing "critical" materials, which also indicates their premonition of the approaching "great upheaval."
Who will be the candidate for the elections? "Who will we make president?" asked the head of the GKNB Kamchybek Tashiev back in 2024. "Maybe we’ll bring back Almazbek Atambayev? We've seen that before."
Atambayev, although he would like to return to power, cannot participate in the elections due to his criminal conviction. Nevertheless, his name still evokes hope among some citizens. Perhaps another Atambayev — Seyidbek Almazbekovich — will run.
Who else might be nominated by the opposition? It's hard to say. The main question is who can pose a real challenge to Sadyr Japarov? His five-year rule is characterized by economic growth and significant political reforms. Sadyr Japarov and Kamchybek Tashiev have managed to resolve long-standing border disputes with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Japarov also carried out the nationalization of "Kumtor" and implemented a crucial constitutional reform that strengthened the presidential model of governance. He has taken responsibility for all state decisions, and it is up to him to decide when to hold elections.
However, from the perspective of state interests, early elections may prove to be more reasonable and beneficial for the country.
The fall of 2023 will be an important period for Kyrgyzstan: the republic will chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and prepare for a major summit. This will require significant efforts to coordinate diplomatic positions and ensure security. The World Nomad Games are also planned, which will require a large concentration of resources for preparation and hosting guests.
According to the schedule, the presidential elections are set to take place on January 24, 2027, almost immediately after these challenging events. For the state budget, such a burden may prove to be overwhelming, not to mention the risks associated with low voter turnout in winter and possible social discontent due to power outages.
The most important question remains that of political strategy. Early elections will not allow the fragmented opposition to unite and create a single front. In the context of strong power, it makes sense for Sadyr Japarov to announce early elections and hold them in late spring or early summer so that the country enters the challenging autumn period with an already confirmed mandate of trust.
It is worth noting that Japarov has the right to hold the presidency for 11 years (five plus six), and five of those years have already passed. According to the new Constitution, he has the authority to independently decide the timing of the next presidential elections. He will likely choose a pragmatic approach.
Thus, the question of whether the elections will take place on time or early is not so crucial from a legal standpoint, but it is of great importance for effectiveness. The decision will be made by Sadyr Japarov in a working manner.
