BISHKEK – Kyrgyzstan appointed Ulukbek Maripov as the country’s new prime minister yesterday, bringing a long-running political crisis to a close, Anadolu Agency reported.
A new government was formed after Sadyr Japarov, who won presidential elections held on January 10, resigned as prime minister.
Party leaders who formed a coalition nominated Maripov for the premiership. He was then serving as chairman of the Accounting Chamber, a state auditing institution.
Maripov won a vote of confidence in the polls, which were held to determine the new prime minister and cabinet members.
According to Anadolu Agency, his first decision was reducing the number of deputy prime ministers from four to one and merging certain ministries with committees to reduce the number of committees. He also re-established the Defence Ministry instead of the Presidency of General Staff after six years.
A statement by the presidency indicated that the decree for Maripov’s premiership has been approved by President Japarov.
The 41-year-old Maripov is now the 33rd prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary of independence on August 31. – Bernama, February 4, 2021