Presidential poll

With Kyrgyzstan's polling stations closed after a day of voting in presidential elections, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev has emerged as a likely winner.

The country's central election commission said Atambayev, seen by many as the moderate candidate, had 63.0 percent of the vote.

His main rivals from among 15 candidates have been Kamchybek Tashiyev, a former boxer from the influential Ata-Schurt (Fatherland) party and former speaker of the parliament Adahan Madumarov. The pair - both seen as nationalists - trailed with 14.4 and 14.9 percent of the vote, respectively.

Interim Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva has said she hopes the elections will set a precedent for peaceful future transfers of power in Kyrgyzstan. As the interim president, she is not allowed to stand.

The elections are a test of the country's political stability. In March 2005, President Askar Akayev was ousted during the "Tulip Revolution" and replaced by Kurmanbek Bakiyev who was then himself deposed and forced to flee the country in April 2010. A former foreign minister, Otunbayeva took over then as interim leader. At the same time, a new constitution was adopted that restricted the president's powers and increased the parliament's, in a bid to hinder authoritarian rule.

Ethnic tension is crippling

However, the interim government's popularity decreased when ethnic unrest broke out in June 2010, killing hundreds and making thousands homeless.

Viola von Cramon from the German Green Party told Deutsche Welle that "ethnic tension and conflicts are crippling economic development and could prevent Kyrgyzstan's long-term recovery."

She said that the new president would have to promote the reconciliation process. "We hope the elected candidate will be less interested in satisfying nationalistic requirements than in introducing policies for the whole country and all of Kyrgyzstan's ethnic groups."

"The constitution meant Kyrgyzstan was the first country in Central Asia to have a parliamentary democracy," von Cramon pointed out, adding that even if the goal of a parliamentary republic had not yet been attained completely, the foundation stones had been set.

Last autumn, parliamentary polls took place largely peacefully and led to the formation of a coalition government under Prime Minister Atambayev.

Many challenges ahead

But von Cramon says a lot of work still needs to be done regarding the country's justice system and domestic security.

Beate Eschment from the Research Center for East European Studies at the University of Bremen attributes great importance to the upcoming presidential elections. She told Deutsche Welle that a successful "democratic transition" would be very important for the country's international image and for continued financial investment.

"What is most important is that the elections take place peacefully and the people accept the result. If not, difficult times lie ahead," she warned. She also lamented that there had already been hints in the campaign that the president, who already has a lot of influence, would be given more powers in future.

Observers doubt that there will be any clear results from Sunday's polling - because of the large number of candidates, most expect a run-off.

Authors: Natalija Posdnjakova / Markian Ostaptschuk / act, rc
Editor: Manasi Gopalakrishnan