AKMATALIEV ALMAZBEK AKMATALIEVICH

The article demonstrates how the state’s role in society is objectively growing in the face of new social, political, technological, economic, environmental, and other challenges. This, in turn, imposes qualitatively new requirements for selecting and promoting leaders in the public administration system. This issue can be resolved using the meritocracy principle; however, because of several drawbacks noted in numerous studies, this principle cannot be used as the sole criterion for problem-solving. It is suggested that these criteria, which can be highly representative given the current procedures for professional diagnostics of civil servants and the identification of their leadership attributes, consist of the presence of strategic vision and the ability to make managerial decisions based on the harmonization of long-term interests of the state, business and civil society; the ability to solve complicated economic, social, and environmental problems in a complex; the capability to recognize and solve emerging challenges before they are transformed into emergencies; the presence of skills of effective management and moral authority.

The article examines the features of the development of Kyrgyz statehood after gaining independence in 1991. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, not only the economic system but also the system of public administration and civil service underwent a complete reform, since it was also required to respond to the changed realities. The formation of the young Kyrgyz state was accompanied by a catastrophic decline in production, inflation, an increase in poverty and crime. However, the actions of the authorities minimized negative trends and provided a clear and transparent legislative basis for changes in the country. The political decisions allowed starting the fight against corruption, carrying out the necessary reforms, and providing Kyrgyzstan with the opportunity to become an example of a small open economy that has taken strategic measures to establish new market institutions. In 2017, for the first time in the modern history of the Central Asian states, a peaceful transfer of presidential power was carried out in the Kyrgyz Republic. The current constitution limits presidential powers to one six-year term.