Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet resigns amid political turmoil
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet has resigned following the breakup of the governing coalition, part of political maneuvering ahead of a constitutional referendum set for this fall in the ex-Soviet Central Asian nation.
The Kyrgyz parliament's speaker formally declared Wednesday that the governing coalition no longer exists following the departure of President Almazbek Atambayev's Social-Democratic Party. The coalition's collapse triggered an immediate resignation of the Cabinet.
The move reflects an escalating conflict between Atambayev and his former ally, Omurbek Tekebayev, who has criticized constitutional amendments proposed by the president and challenged him on other issues. A new governing coalition to be created will leave Tekebayev's Aka-Meken party in the opposition.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bishkek-based political analyst Ainura Arzymatova said that Atambayev also would likely take other steps to consolidate his power ahead of December's referendum.