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Integrity Scorecard

2007 Assessment

Kyrgyz Republic: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Kyrgyz Republic: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Budget Processes
Indicators		Score
37	Can the legislature provide input to the national budget?	83
38	Can citizens access the national budgetary process?	50
39	In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?	100
40	Is the legislative committee overseeing the expenditure of public funds effective?	44

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Can the legislature provide input to the national budget?

37a: In law, the legislature can amend the budget.

Score:

YES

Comments: The parliament shall not make amendments requiring increase in expenditures if the government cannot provide sources to cover them.

References: The Law on Main Principles of Budget Law, Article 15 The Constitution, Articles 58 and 65

37b: In practice, significant public expenditures require legislative approval.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: All significant government expenditures (defined as any project costing more than 1% of the total national budget), must be approved by the legislature. This includes defense and secret programs, which may be debated in closed hearings. 50 Score Criteria: Most significant government expenditures (as defined) are approved by the legislature, but some exceptions to this rule exist. This may include defense programs, an executive\'s personal budget, or other expenses. 0 Score Criteria: The legislature does not have the power to approve or disapprove large portions of the government budget, or the legislature does not exercise this power in a meaningful way.$

Comments: The budget of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2007 was increased up to 100 million soms (US$2,800,000) in response to requests of the parliamentarians.

References: Tazar News Agency, Deputies of the Parliament Approved Agreed Draft of the Kyrgyz Republic's Budget for 2007 in Second Edition, April 5, 2007, www.tazar.kg

37c: In practice, the legislature has sufficient capacity to monitor the budget process and provide input or changes.

Score:

100

Comments: Legislators have a limited number of staff for monitoring, which is why they mostly rely on reports of the Accounts Chamber.

References: Expert in budget process (confidential source)

Can citizens access the national budgetary process?

38a: In practice, the national budgetary process is conducted in a transparent manner in the debating stage (i.e. before final approval).

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Interview with Zaure Sadykova, Director of Small Business Development Center, Director of www.open.kg Project, Aug. 25, 2007, Bishkek

38b: In practice, citizens provide input at budget hearings.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Interview with Zaure Sadykova, Director of Small Business Development Center, Director of www.open.kg Project, Aug. 25, 2007, Bishkek

38c: In practice, citizens can access itemized budget allocations.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Interview with Zaure Sadykova, Director of Small Business Development Center, Director of www.open.kg Project, Aug. 25, 2007, Bishkek

In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?

39: In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?

Score:

YES

Comments: According to the law, a permanent committee of the parliament must consider all proposed budget expenditures and incomes.

References: The Law on Main Principles of Budget Law in the Kyrgyz Republic, June 11, 1998, N 78, Article 41

Is the legislative committee overseeing the expenditure of public funds effective?

40a: In practice, department heads regularly submit reports to this committee.

Score:

100

Comments: The reports on budget implementation are submitted to the Central Treasury of the Ministry of Finance. The parliament's committee can request a report from a particular ministry or agency, but this is not a formal and regular report.

References: Interview with an expert in budget (confidential source)

40b: In practice, the committee acts in a non-partisan manner with members of opposition parties serving on the committee in an equitable fashion.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The committee is comprised of legislators from both the ruling party (or parties) and opposition parties in a roughly equitable distribution. All members of the committee -- including opposition party members -- are able to fully participate in the activities of the committee and influence the committee\'s work to roughly the same extent as any other member of the committee. 50 Score Criteria: The committee is comprised of legislators from both the ruling party (or parties) and opposition parties although the ruling party has a disproportionate share of committee seats. The chairperson of the committee may be overly influential and curb other members\' ability to shape the committee's activities. 0 Score Criteria: The committee is dominated by legislators of the ruling party and/or the committee chairperson. Opposition legislators serving on the committee have in practice no way to influence the work of the committee.$

Comments: So far, there has been no clear distinction between the opposition and the ruling party. That is why some representatives of the "opposition" often used to be members of budget committees. The head of the last parliament committee on budget and finance was leading opposition member Temir Sariev.

However, in the new constitution, a party system was introduced. Therefore, after parliament elections that will be held on December 16, 2007, the party of the President might become the majority in the parliament. In this case, it is doubtful that opposition members can be a part of the budget and finance committee.

References: Interview with an expert in budget (confidential source)

40c: In practice, this committee is protected from political interference.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: This committee operates independently of the political process, without incentive or pressure to render favorable judgments on politically sensitive issues. Investigations are rarely praised or criticized by political figures. 50 Score Criteria: This committee is usually independent but is sometimes influenced by negative or positive political incentives. This may include public praise or criticism by the government. 0 Score Criteria: This committee is commonly influenced by personal or political forces or incentives. This may include conflicting family relationships, professional partnerships, or other personal loyalties that ultimately influence the committee\'s behavior and decision-making. Negative incentives may include threats, harassment or other abuses of power by the government.$

Comments:

References: Interview with an expert in budget (confidential source)

40d: In practice, when necessary, this committee initiates independent investigations into financial irregularities.

Score:

100

Comments: The committee has no capacity to investigate financial irregularities or violations. Usually parliamentary investigation teams include members of different committees. For instance, in March 2007, the parliament initiated investigations on how shares of state corporation have been sold through illegal procedures.

References: Order of the Parliament on Illegal Deal with Shares of State-owned "Cristal" Corporation of 19 March, 2007, N 1692-III

Interview with an expert in budget (confidential source)