Chamber:
	Joghorku Kenesh
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	5 February 1995 19 February 1995
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the new Parliament provided for in the Constitution of May 1993.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The 1995 general elections were the first since independence was attained in September 1991. A new Constitution providing for a parliamentary system of government was adopted in May 1993. On 2 September 1994, 143 liberal Deputies (of the 350 in the outgoing Parliament that had last been elected in February 1990) announced their intention to boycott the sittings, blaming their conservatives colleagues for blocking the path to economic reform. They called for new elections and the establishment of a stronger presidency. On 5 September, the pro-reform Cabinet of Prime Minister Apas Jumagulov, frustrated by its continuing face-off with Parliament, resigned. The same day, President of the Republic Askar Akayev decreed that polling would be held earlier than the normally due dates of February/March 1995. This move was opposed by conservative and nationalist groups, including the Communist Party, which sought more time for campaigning. On 22 October, a popular referendum on constitutional amendments took place. Among the approved changes was one reducing the size of Parliament and splitting it into two bodies, one (the Legislative Assembly) comprising 35 members and sitting full-time and the second (the People’s Assembly), with 70 members, meeting more sporadically. Altogether some 1050 candidates and 12 parties vied for these seats. In the first round of voting on 5 February, only 13 Deputies obtained the required majority to be returned; most of the remaining seats were filled two weeks later. The overall outcome left no party in a dominating position, as independent candidates also made a strong showing. President Akayev – whose pro-reform and free-market policies have earned him the support of Western countries – continues in office. The Cabinet, for its part, was appointed in April; it is headed by Prime Minister Jumagulov.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (5 February 1995): Elections results
Number of registered electors	2,200,000 (approx.)
Voters	62.0%
Round no 2 (19 February 1995): Elections results
Number of registered electors	2,200,000 (approx.)
Voters	61.1%

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	69
Women:	1
Percent of women:	1.43

Distribution of seats according to age:
21-30 years	1
31-40 years	15
41-50 years	32
51-60 years	19
61-70 years	2
Over 70 years	1