20/7 Tass 180
BISHKEK, July 20 (Itar-Tass) —— The number of candidates for the post of the Kyrgyz president has risen to 14 after all of them submitted corresponding documents to the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan, the press service of the Kyrgyz Central Election Commission told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
Five candidates were nominated by political parties, and nine candidates are running for the presidential post as independent candidates, the press service said. Kyrgyz experts said that except Kamchybek Tashiyev – leader of Ata- Zhurt ( Fatherland) party, and Adakhan Madumarov – leader of Butun Kyrgyzstan (United Kyrgyzstan ), there are no bright politicians capable to compete for the presidential post.
Political experts are confident that authoritative, famous politicians have not declared their intention yet to take part in the presidential election. Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev said he might take a decision on participating in the election only next month. Experts have no doubt that the nearer the election date the fewer contestants for the presidential post will remain; their number might be essentially cut because of financial and organizational problems, experts said.
The presidential election in Kyrgyzstan was scheduled for October 30.
To register as a candidate it is necessary to collect no fewer than 30,000 signatures in a candidate’s support, pass an exam in Kyrgyz national language and pay a collateral worth 100,000 soms (around 2,200 dollars). Within five days after being nominated presidential candidates are to create an Election Fund to finance the election campaign. The registration of the candidates continues until September 25.
A candidate for Kyrgyz presidency to be elected for a term of six years should be a citizen of Kyrgyzstan who lives on the territory of Kyrgyzstan for the past 15 years and is no younger than 35 and no older than 70.
At present, Kyrgyzstan has interim President Rosa Otunbayeva, elected 2. 5 months after the former Kyrgyz president, Kurmanbeck Bakiyev, was overthrown. According to Kyrgyz law, Otunbayeva has no right to run for presidency again.