The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan voted Thursday to postpone the date of new parliamentary elections until a constitutional reform supported by acting president Sadyr Japarov can be enacted. Japarov is actively promoting the suggested reforms as the nation’s constitution currently bars him from running in the election while he is acting president.

The new law adopted by the Kyrgyz Republic suspends several articles of the constitution which regulate the procedure for holding the repeat parliamentary elections until the completion of new constitutional reform. The law comes into force with immediate effect upon its publication. The date for the repeat elections will be set at a later time, with the target of it being shortly the institution of the reforms. However, the new election can be no later than June 1, 2021. The bill also states that “Constitutional reform, amendments to the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic must be completed by January 21, 2021.”

Parliamentary elections were previously held in Kyrgyzstan on October 4, 2020. However, due to widespread protests organized by the allegedly losing parties, the Central Election Commission annulled the original results on October 6. After the annulment, protesters agreed to release Japarov, a nationalist politician, from prison. He was quickly elected as the prime minister and subsequently became acting president until the new elections are held.

The repeat parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan were initially scheduled for December 20, 2020. The press service for Japarov has claimed that the delay in repeating parliamentary elections is necessary to adequately address many concerns the country is currently facing, including the current socio-political situation in the country.  It remains unclear whether the decision to delay the election will spark a new round of protest in the country.