Kyrgyz Politics Since 2005
Kulov served as Prime Minister until 19 December 2006 when he resigned, automatically triggering the dismissal of his cabinet per the Constitution. President Bakiyev immediately appointed him Acting Prime Minister. Bakiyev appointed Kulov Prime Minister again in mid-January 2007.
Parliamentarians voted 39 to 23 against the confirmation of Kulov, 15 votes short the minimum for confirmation, on 18 January 2007. Opposition Parliamentarian Azimbek Beknazarov told Kulov prior to the vote, "I may be wrong, but I believe your nomination will be rejected. Be brave and admit that you cannot perform your duties of prime minister. Admit that you have been unable to do so for the past year-and-a-half. I think it would be better if you refused . Be a man!"
President Bakiyev renominated Kulov the next day, since the new constitution permits the same candidate to be presented three times. The Kyrgyz Parliament's Constitution Committee ruled on 22 January 2007 that Bakiyev could not renominate Kulov because it violated the Constitution. Committee chairman Iskhak Masaliyev told Bakiyev to nominate someone else. Myrza Kaparov, Bakiyev's envoy to the Parliament disagreed, telling Parliamentarians, "We must also refer to the constitutional law on government, which says that the president has the right to submit the candidacy three times. If the Jorgorku Kenesh rejects his choice three times, you know all the consequences. Everything is clearly written in this law."
After Kulov's nomination failed for the second time on 26 January, the president nominated agriculture minister Azim Isabekov, a close associate of his and former deputy head of the Presidential Administration, on 26 January 2007.
In February, Kulov joined an opposition group, the United Front for a Worthy Future for Kyrgyzstan, which is calling for an early presidential election. As leader of the group, he has also supported the idea of establishing a confederation with Russia.
Anti-Bakiyev protests from April 11 to April 19, 2007 culminated with clashes between the protesters and the police, and Kulov was questioned in connection with the clashes on April 21, after initially refusing to appear for questioning on the previous day. Kulov blamed the authorities for the clashes. On August 1, 2007, Kulov was charged with creating public disorder in connection with the clashes.
Read more about this topic: Felix Kulov
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