22/7 Tass 292
BISHKEK, July 22 (Itar-Tass) —— Twenty-one people have declared their wish to take part in the presidential election race in Kyrgyzstan, the Central Elections Commission told Itar-Tass on Friday.
“Five candidates were nominated by political parties, while the rest of the candidates nominated themselves,” the Commission said.
The prospective candidates include a retired police general, unemployed persons, businessmen, a journalist, parliament deputies and a former serviceman. “One of the candidates, General Director of the Sergius of Radonezh and the Generous Manas Human Rights Center Igor Trofimov, has withdrawn from the election campaign,” the Commission said.
The nomination of candidates will end on August 16, and the election will take place on October 30, the Commission said.
Candidates need to collect no less than 30,000 signatures of voters in their support, pass the state language exam and deposit 100,000 soms (about $2,200) in a pledge for being registered, the Commission said. “Five days after the nomination they must form an election fund for financing their campaign. The fund must not be larger than 50 million soms ($1.1 million). The registration of candidates will end on September 25,” the Commission said.
Local experts say there are no candidates but Ata Zhurt leader Kamchybek Tashiyev and Butun Kyrgyzstan head Adakhan Madumarov capable of the real rivalry for the top administrative position in the country. Other authoritative politicians have not declared their presidential ambitions. Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev said he would make a decision on his possible involvement in the election campaign next month only. Experts predict that the number of candidates will reduce a lot because of financial and organizational problems.
Kyrgyzstan will elect the president for six years. The candidates must be older than 35 and younger than 70. The candidates must be citizens of Kyrgyzstan and live in the home country for no less than 15 previous years. Rosa Otunbayeva is the transitional president of Kyrgyzstan. She was elected in June 2010, 2.5 months after the toppling of Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Otunbayeva cannot take part in this election campaign by law.