stand as a candidate for president in the elections scheduled for 10 July. It was unclear at first whether language would be a barrier to his election: the president is required by law to be fluent in the Kyrgyz language, and in common with many from the north of the country, Kulov's native tongue is Russian. The issue became moot, however, when he withdrew his candidacy in mid-May, pledging his support to Bakiyev. At that time he was also appointed Acting First Deputy Prime Minister. He was already expected to be appointed as prime minister by the elected president. Bakiyev won the election in July. He was sworn in on 11 August. He appointed Kulov acting prime minister. On 1 September 2005, Kulov was confirmed as prime minister by the Kyrgyz parliament, by a vote of 55 to 8. Kyrgyz politics since 2005 Kulov served as Prime Minister until 19 December 2006 when he resigned, automatically triggering the dismissal of his cabinet per the Constitution. President Bakiyev immediately appointed him Acting Prime Minister. Bakiyev appointed Kulov Prime Minister again in mid-January 2007. Parliamentarians voted 39 to 23 against the confirmation of Kulov, 15 votes short the minimum for confirmation, on 18 January 2007. Opposition Parliamentarian Azimbek Beknazarov told Kulov prior to the vote, "I may be wrong, but I believe your nomination will be rejected. Be brave and admit that you cannot perform your duties of prime minister. Admit that you have been unable to do so for the past year-and-a-half. I think it would be better if you refused [to be reappointed]. Be a man!" President Bakiyev renominated Kulov the next day, since the new constitution permits the same candidate to be presented three times. The Kyrgyz Parliament's Constitution Committee ruled on 22 January 2007 that Bakiyev could not renominate Kulov because it violated the Constitution. Committee chairman Iskhak Masaliyev told Bakiyev to nominate someone else. Myrza Kaparov, Bakiyev's envoy to the Parliament disagreed, telling Parliamentarians, "We must also refer to the constitutional law on government, which says that the president has the right to submit the candidacy three times. If the Jorgorku Kenesh rejects his choice three times, you know all the consequences. Everything is clearly written in this law." After Kulov's nomination failed for the second time on 26 January, the president nominated agriculture minister Azim Isabekov, a close associate of his and former deputy head of