e expense of the legislature

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990) was
elected for a five-year term by popular vote; elections last held 24
December 1995 (next to be held NA); results - Askar AKAYEV won
election with 75% of vote with 86% of electorate voting; note -
elections were held early which gave the two opposition candidates
little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have orchestrated the
"deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom was a major
rival
head of government: Prime Minister Apas JUMAGULOV (since NA December
1993) was appointed by the president and reappointed February 1996
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council (Zhogorku Kenesh)
Assembly of People's Representatives: elections last held 5 February
1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (70 total) seats by party NA; note - not all the 70
seats were filled at the 5 February elections; as a result, run-off
elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly
Legislative Assembly: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next to
be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (35
total) seats by party NA; note - not all the 35 seats were filled at
the 5 February elections; as a result, run-off elections were held
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995
elections

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for a 10-year
term by the Zhogorku Kenesh on recommendation of the president;
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (SDP);
Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan (DDK), Jypar JEKSHEYEV, chairman;
National Unity; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan (PCK), Absamat
MASALIYEV, chairman; Democratic Movement of Free Kyrgyzstan (ErK),
Tursunbay Bakir UULU, chairman; Republican Popular Party of
Kyrgyzstan; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan; Atu Meken Party, Omurbek
TEKEBAYEV; ASABA

Other political or pressure groups: National Unity Democratic
Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of
Entrepreneurs; Agrarian Party

International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EBRD, ECE,
E