News

Kazakhstan: The opposition parties of NSDP and Azat united, Ferghana (2009)

National social-democratic party (NSDP) of Kazakhstan and Azat Democratic Party announced their integration into Azat National social-democratic party. The invitation to integrate was also sent to the leaders of two other opposition parties – Alga and Communist party. However, their leaders rejected the proposal.

Kazakh electors pick fresh crop of senators, RFE (2008)

The head of Kazakhstan’s election authority has endorsed the results of an indirect vote to fill a handful of seats in the country’s rubberstamp upper house of parliament, saying candidates won majorities in all 16 contests. It was unclear whether all the winners were members of the pro-presidential Nur-Otan party or nominal independents, but there were no opposition members among the 37 candidates in the running.

Kazakhstan: early parliamentary poll on the cards, EurasiaNet (2008)

Mounting speculation that Kazakhstan will call an early parliamentary election was fuelled last week when an official from President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s administration dropped heavy hints that a fresh vote is expected as the country gears up to assume the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010.

Kazakhstan set to hold eary poll, BBC (2007).

This article concerns the decision of president Nursultan Nazarbayev to hold early parliamentary elections.

Kazakh MPs lift presidency limit, BBC (2007).

This article deals with the Kazakh parliament vote on unlimited terms of office for president Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The Upcoming Election in Kazakhstan, JTW (2007)

This is an article about the upcoming parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan by The Journal of Turkish Weekly.

Kazakh Party Proposes Presidency-For-Life For Nazarbaev, RFE/RL (2009)

Kazakhstan's Presidential Nur-Otan party is proposing legislation that would allow Nursultan Nazarbaev to remain president for life. In 2007, the Kazakh parliament adopted an amendment to the constitution extending the presidential term to seven years and lifting the limit on the number of terms that Nazarbaev could serve.

Kazakh Party Proposes Abolishing Prime Minister Post, RFE/RL (2010)

The article reports about the initiative of Kazakhstan's pro-presidential Adilet (Justice) party to abolish the post of prime minister and give most of its powers to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev. Nazarbaev has been president of Kazakhstan since it gained independence in 1991. He was reelected to a seven-year term in 2005, in an election that was deemed by international observers to be neither free nor fair.

Kazakhstan’s Parliament May Expand Presidential Powers, EurasiaNet (2010)

The article reports that Kazakhstan’s parliament is mulling legislative changes that would bestow new powers on the incumbent president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. In addition to granting Nazarbayev the title of “leader of the nation,” he would gain the right to intervene in politics after he officially retired from the presidency and would enjoy enhanced immunity from prosecution.

Kazakh President Handed 'Leader Of The Nation' Status, RFE/RL (2010)

The article writes that Kazakhstan's parliament has adopted constitutional amendments granting President Nursultan Nazarbaev the status of "Leader of the nation". This status gives Nazarvayev lifelong immunity from investigation or prosecution, and other advantages.

Kazakh President Won't Sign Draft Law On Special Powers, RFE/RL (2010)

The article informs that Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbaev is not going to sign a controversial draft law that would give him special powers for life. Last month, the country's parliament drafted and quickly passed the bill on "Leader of the Nation" that would allow Nazarbaev to retain nearly all the powers he has as president even if he steps down from office. In his television statement, Nazarbaev referred to Kazakhstan's international obligations as a reason for not approving the draft law.

Bill to Boost Nazarbayev’s Powers in Kazakhstan Remains Theoretically Alive, EurasiaNet (2010)

Teh article says that although it has been widely reported that Kazakhstan’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has rejected parliament-approved amendments to enhance his executive powers, but Nazarbayev’s refusal to sign the legislation may not be the end of the story. A little-known loophole exists that leaves the door open for the amendments to become law automatically, even without Nazarbayev’s approval.

Kazakh Opposition Parties Want Referendum On Impeaching President, RFE/RL (2010)

The article reports that Kazakhstan's Algha (Forward) and Communist parties have discussed their joint efforts to hold a national referendum on impeaching President Nursultan Nazarbaev. Earlier this year the Constitution was amended to announce Nazarbaev "leader of the nation", with lifelong immunity and benefits. The two parties are goign to meet on September 25 in order to design further steps for organising the nationwide referendum.

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Will Run for Reelection in 2012 - Aide, EurasiaNet (2010)

The article writes about the intention of Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev to run for 2012 elections, and seek for re-election for another two periods. The announcement appears designed to stem speculation about a possible successor.

Opposition Party Leader Pelted With Eggs In Kazakhstan, RFE/RL (2010)

The article informs that Vladimir Kozlov, the leader of Kazakhstan's unregistered Algha (Forward) opposition party, and activists from the Communist party were attacked by a group of young people when they had gathered in the National Press Club premises to discuss the political situation in the country. Kozlov has recently announced that he wants to run for presidential elections.

Kazakhstan: Opposition Presidential Bid Sparks Ethnicity Row, EurasiaNet (2010)

The article writes that despite presidential elections in Kazakhstan are two years ahead, the announcement of an ethnic Russian opposition leader about his plans to challenge the incumbent president in the elections, have provoked protest from nationalists in this multiethnic country.

Kazakh Opposition Leader Praises Kyrgyz President, RFE/RL (2010)

The article writes that the leader of unregistered opposition party in Kazakhstan has expressed interest in taking over the presidential office in 2012. He has even expressed readiness to become an interim president, following the Kyrgyz experience.

Kazakh Senators Back Referendum To Extend Nazarbaev Rule, RFE/RL (2011)

The article reports that the upper chamber of Kazakh parliament has unanimously endoursed a plan to hold a referendum that would extend the term in office of President Nursultan Nazarbaev by another 10 years. The lower house already backed a similar bill.

Kazakh President Rejects Term Extension Idea, RFE/RL (2011)

The article reports that Kazakhstan's president Nazarbayev has rejected the idea of extending his term of office until 2020 (he has been the Kazakh president for 20 years already). Nazarbaev's critics, however, dismissed the move as a show of democracy aimed at boosting the president's image.

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Veto Not Stopping Bid to Extend Presidential Term, EurasiaNet (2011)

The article analyses possibilities of extending the term of Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev. On January 6, Nazarbayev rejected a measure to keep him in power until 2020. However, it is possible that his veto will be trumped by a parliamentary override.

Kazakhstan: Referendum Bill Could Cement Nazarbaev's Long-Term Leadership, RFE/RL (2011)

The article reports about political developments in Kazakhstan, focusing on the issue of extending the term in office of President Nazarbayev. Kazakh parliamentarians have voted in favor of holding a national referendum to keep Nazarbaev in office until 2020. Opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov does not believe the process can be successful. The timeline for the conduct of referendum is not identified yet.

Kazakhstan to hold snap election, Al Jazeera (2011)

The article reports that Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been rulling the country already for 20 years, has called for a snap presidential election on April 3, about 20 months before the end of his term. Nazarbayev hopes to get reelected in the April 3 elections, while the opposition will have little time to prepare for the vote.

Kazakhstan: What is Nazarbayev’s Motive for Early Vote?, EuroasiaNet (2011)

The article offers analyses of the reasons why Kazakhstan's president Nazarbayev appointed early presidential elections in April 2011, about 20 months before the end of his term. The article argues that with elections in April, Nazarbayev will be left without opposition.

Kazakh Opposition Party Says It Will Not Participate In Presidential Vote, RFERL (2011)

The article reports that Kazakh opposition party Azat will boycott the April presidential vote, explaining that there is not sufficient time to prepare for the early elections.

Kazakhstan To Spend $32 Million On Presidential Election, RFE/RL (2011)

The article informs that the Kazakh government has allocated 4.7 billion tenges ($32 million) to hold the early presidential election on April 3. This sum allocated is $11.6 million higher than for the previous presidential election in 2005. The election campaign will officially start on March 3.

In Kazakhstan's Poll, It's Not 'Who's Gonna Win?' But 'Why Now?', RFE/RL (2011)

The article discusses several aspects of Kazakhstan's upcoming presidential elections - requirement of Kazakh language test for presidential candidacy, the timing of elections, possible connections with Russian elections.

Kazakhstan to re-elect leader for third decade, ABS CBN (2011)

The article discusses coming presidential elections in Kazakhstan. The incumbend president Mr. Nazarbayev is expected to win the election overwhelmingly and start his third decade in power. He has ruled the country since the Soviet era and gained 91 per cent of the votes in previous elections in 2005.

Kazakhstan: Kazakh opposition leader, activists protest early election, Central Asia Newswire (2011)

The article discusses opposition's role in coming presidential elections in Kazakhstan. The opposition leaders say they were given no time toorganize a proper campaign to challenge the incumbent president who is virtually certain to win.

Landslide re-election for Kazakh Leader, Euronews (2011)

The article covers April 3 early presidential elections in Kazakhstan, where incumbent president Nazarbayev was re-elected with a overwhelming majority of votes.

Kazakh hails win, OSCE urges more reform, Reuters (2011)

The article reports that Kazakhstan's veteran leader Nursultan Nazarbayev celebrates his landslide re-election on Monday but Europe's main monitoring mission, OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, said the vote was marred by irregularities and pressed for democratic reforms.

Kazakhstan: reforms necessary for holding democratic elections have yet to materialize, observers say, OSCE/ODIHR (2011)

The statement of OSCE/ODIHR observers said that April 3 presidential vote in Kazakhstan revealed similar shortcomings as those noted in previous elections in the country. The international observers noted that while the election was technically well administered, the absence of opposition candidates and of a vibrant political discourse resulted in a non-competitive environment.

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Landslide Fails to Win Over Foreign Observers, EurasiaNet (2011)

The article reports that Kazakhstan's leader Nazarbyev won in the April 3 elections with 95.5% of votes, and declaring more than 90% turnout. Although Nazarbayev asserted Kazakhstan is democratizing, international observers are critical of the electoral process and indicated that the accuracy of numbers is of suspect.

Kazakhstan: An Observer’s Reflections on the Presidential Election, EurasiaNet (2011)

This commentary provides reflections of an international observer (OSCE/ODIHR) on the April 3 presidential elections in Kazakhstan, where incumbent Nursultan Nazarbayev received 95.5 percent of the vote with almost 90 percent of the electorate casting ballots.

Kazakhstan heads towards early parliamentary election, The Telegraph (2011)

Following the petition from parliamentarians calling for President Nazarbayev to dissolve the parliament, Kazakhstan steers for early parliamentary elections to be held in mid-January 2012. The article notes that one of the few opposition parties, the Communist Party, is likely to be excluded from participation in these elections due to its 6-month suspension by a court ruling in October 2011.

Kazakhstan’s president dissolves parliament, calls election, The Washington Post (2011)

The article reports that President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan issued a decree dissolving the parliament and calling an early election to be held on January 15, 2012. According to the amended election law, the minimum of two parties will enter the legislature after the January vote, thus ending the monopoly of the governing party. Nonetheless, the article notes that genuine opposition forces in Kazakhstan stand a poor chance of winning parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections.

Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission adopts a number of important resolutions, Press Service of CEC (2011)

This press release of the Central Election Commission informs that several instructions on the order of application of electoral procedures in the forthcoming parliamentary elections were adopted. They concern such issues as registration of proxies, sealing of ballot boxes, election monitoring by foreign media and observers, casting a vote using three ballot-papers, amongst others.

Kazakhstan's Electoral Management Body

Here is a link to the official website of Kazakhstan's Electoral Management Body

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