Kyrgyzstan forms new government headed by president ally

Kyrgyzstan's parliament today voted overwhelmingly to confirm a new government led by the country's 30th prime minister in less than three decades, who is an ally of new President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.

Mukhamedkali Abylgaziyev's installment is the latest indicator that Jeenbekov has consolidated power in the ex-Soviet country following a struggle with former president and one-time ally Almazbek Atambayev.

Abylgaziyev, 50, was parachuted into the prime minister's post after serving as Jeenbekov's chief of staff since March.

Of 115 lawmakers present, 114 voted to approve Abylgaziyev's cabinet after a no-confidence vote yesterday felled the government of former prime minister Sapar Isakov, who was close to Atambayev.

The cabinet is backed by a coalition of four of the parliament's parties, with two other factions making up the opposition.

Jeenbekov, 59, came to power in a bitterly fought presidential election last year while enjoying strong support from Atambayev, 61, who was limited to a single presidential term by the constitution.

His inauguration marked the first peaceful transfer of power between elected presidents in a country that has experienced two revolutions since independence from Moscow in 1991.

But tensions emerged after Atambayev criticised appointments made by Jeenbekov and he called for the new president's brother, Asylbek, to relinquish his seat in parliament in a public appearance in March.

Earlier this month Jeenbekov fired key Atambayev allies in the national security service and initiated the sacking of the country's state prosecutor. He has yet to make his own appointments.

Known since his time as an opposition leader for a fiery and often vulgar public speaking style, Atambayev moved the impoverished ex-Soviet country away from the West and closer to traditional ally Russia while in office.

On March 31, he was elected chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan that has dominated Kyrgyz politics since a violent revolution ousted authoritarian leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev in 2010, despite initially pledging to leave politics.