Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 23 / Trend V.Zhavoronkova /
Deutsche Welle's Russian service editor-in-chief and East Europe department head, Ingo Mannteufel believes the upcoming 2011 may be a turning point for Kyrgyzstan.
"Next year, Kyrgyzstan will experience a turning point in its history: either a parliamentary democracy is built, or the country will be thrown back into the past," Mannteufel wrote to Trend in an e-mail.
After former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's overthrow in April, Kyrgyzstan is experiencing a period of political crisis. Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva took office after her predecessor President Bakiyev was ousted.
The new government then decided to change its model of government from the presidential to parliamentary, which was subsequently approved in a referendum this summer.
Last week the Almazbek- Atambayev-led new government took charge in Kyrgyzstan.
Mannteufel said if the republic's government fails to build a parliamentary democracy, one can not exclude a return to the presidential system of government, or the withdrawal of some regions from the state.
"The formation of a parliamentary system of government in Kyrgyzstan is of great importance for the country and region. So, to fail in establishing a parliamentary democracy is extremely important from the standpoint of Europe," Mannteufel noted.
He further added that although it's not possible to ensure a successful outcome, it doesn't look so bad despite all the difficulties at the moment.
Mannteufel believes the fact that the majority of the population and political elite are in favor of a parliamentary system of government may be regarded as premises of a successful outcome.
"It is difficult to say how long this state of things will continue. In theory the parliamentary form of government provides for a variety of community and coalition groups an opportunity to be heard. It also makes space for compromise and to resolve conflicts by peaceful means," he said.
Mannteufel noted that the basis of this depends on whether all the parties involved adopt and understand of these mechanisms.
At first glance, the coalition government gives the impression of some instability, he said, because they are forced to represent the interests of different groups.
The guarantor of long-term stable development is exactly the fact that various intentions are openly voiced, and that disputes are resolved peacefully and in an orderly process, he said.
"However, if part of the political elite and population abandon this principle and try to satisfy their own political interests using violent methods, then this threatens to destabilize the country immediately," Mannteufel added.
