Kyrgyzstan Announces Déjà Vu Government

After nearly two months of horse-trading behind closed doors, Kyrgyzstan’s politicians have finally agreed on the formation of a coalition government. As many expected, the party chosen by provisional President Roza Otunbayeva -- her own Social Democratic Party (SDPK) -- has agreed to unite with the other pro-government party, Ata-Meken, and the new business-oriented Respublika. 

Those expecting change from this year’s upheaval, however, may be disappointed. 

The parties' leaders appear to have agreed to anoint each other into the same positions they held under ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev at various times between 2005-2009. 

SDPK leader and former Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev will resume that post; the architect of Kyrgyzstan’s new constitution, Ata-Meken chief Omurbek Tekebayev, will return to parliament as speaker; and businessmen Omurbek Babanov, leader of the new Respublika party, will again take the position of first deputy prime minister.

Last time these men held these positions, they didn’t do it simultaneously. Perhaps that will make all the difference this time around.