Bitter campaign sours Kyrgyz democratic prospects

Significance

The election campaign became unexpectedly acrimonious as the outgoing president, who supported Sooronbay Jeenbekov, launched repeated verbal attacks on Omurbek Babanov. Jeenbekov was declared winner and losing candidate Babanov called for stability. Despite problems, Jeenbekov's election on October 15 was the first democratic transfer of power from one president to another in any Central Asian state.

Impacts

• When a new government is formed in the coming weeks, Sapar Isakov likely to be kept in place as prime minister.
• Babanov may carve out a new role, perhaps uniting the fractious and ego-filled opposition into a more cohesive force.
• Kyrgyz nationalist politicians may need to rethink their policies after their candidate Adakhan Madumarov's spectacularly dismal showing.