Taxicab Confessions, Kyrgyz Style: Lawmakers Get Behind the Wheel to Chat With Voters · Global Voices
Photo from the Facebook page of <PERSON>, the Kyrgyz parliament spokesperson.
When you hail a taxi on the street, you're probably not expecting the driver to be a current member of parliament. But that's what residents of Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, will be experiencing in a rare move by officials in Central Asia to reach out to the ordinary people who vote them into power.
Every week a member of the Kyrgyz parliament, which is called <PERSON> in the local language, is getting behind the wheel of a taxi for the TV program “Parliament Taxi”. The show, which was launched by the parliament's communications department, is broadcast by two local TV stations on evening prime-time. The parliamentarians-turned-cab-drivers use a Toyota Camry from the parliament’s fleet. 148
It is not explained if the lucky passenger pays for this special ride or not.
The first driver, a member of parliament from the ruling Social-Democratic Party, kept his official dress on and drove around two elderly women.
The idea, as any other idea, found both its supporters and opponents. <PERSON> liked it:
Отличная идея! И конкретная помощь населению и главное общение с депутатом!
A great idea! A concrete way to help the population, as well as a chance to chat with a member of parliament!
<PERSON> recalled history:
Это как в старину, цари переодевались в нищих и ходили среди народа и узнавали как они живут.
Like old times, when kings dressed like beggars and walked among the people to see how their people live.
‘They should be doing their own actual job’
The show's organizers say that the main goal of launching this project is to provide an opportunity for voters to talk to their representatives and share their worries and problems with them, as well as to give members of parliament the chance to check in on their voters’ lives.
That raised questions with some Kyrgyz commenters, particularly with <PERSON>, who suggested other jobs would serve the purpose of the show better:
как будто они прям такие сразу стали депутатами, им это все знакомо, лучше бы в детские дома няньками поработали бы или в больнице санитарами)
It seems like they always were parliamentarians. All of them know everything. They would be better off working as nannies at orphanages or as medical orderlies in hospitals.
Other Kyrgyz Facebook users offered up different positions, such as Jyldyz Djambolotovna:
Дешевый пиар! Лучше занимались бы своими проф. обязанностями! Пишите законы которые будут работать на народ !!!!
A cheap PR move! They should be doing their own actual job – writing laws that are useful for people! 148