Kyrgyzstan approves constitution boosting president's power

Kyrgyzstan’s national elections commission says voters have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that substantially increases the president’s powers.

The commission said results from 90% of the polling places showed 79% approval of the constitution in Sunday’s referendum.

The new constitution reduces the size of the country’s parliament by 25% to 90 seats and gives the president the power to appoint judges and heads of law enforcement agencies. It also calls for creating an advisory council that critics say could essentially become a shadow parliament or an instrument for the president to exert pressure, The AP reported.