Kazakhstan Elections
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KAZAKHSTAN ELECTIONS SPECIAL REPORT | JUNE 2019 https://eurac.tv/9QuO With the support of KAZAKHSTAN ELECTIONS SPECIAL REPORT | JUNE 2019 https://eurac.tv/9QuO The presidential election on 9 June was seen in Kazakhstan as crucial for the future development of the central Asian country. This was the first one in which Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was not running, auguring the introduction of more pluralism. Contents Kazakhstan: getting ready to make a new step forward 4 Tokayev set for victory as Kazakhstan transitions from Nazarbayev 6 Tokayev triumphs in Kazakh elections amid tensions 8 New Kazakh leader re-affirms Russia, China ties as EU criticises vote 10 Kazakhstan’s electoral mood calls for more ties with Europe 13 Kazakh Elections 2019: Politics after Nazarbayev 16 4 JUNE 2019 | SPECIAL REPORT | KAZAKHSTAN ELECTIONS | EURACTIV OPINION DISCLAIMER: All opinions in this column reflect the views of the author(s), not of EURACTIV.COM Ltd. Kazakhstan: getting ready to make a new step forward By Beibut Atamkulov Sunday’s presidential polls are seen as the next stage of the political transition in Kazakhstan. [EPA-EFE/IGOR KOVALENKO] azakhstan, the ninth largest The presidential election on 9 June Kazakhstan has become a dynamically country in the world, with an is crucial for the future development of developing country. In less than Karea the size of Western Europe our country. The elections of the head of three decades, Kazakhstan has built and a population of more than 18 state have indeed taken place regularly a stable, growing economy with a million citizens, is tomorrow testing since Kazakhstan gained independence favourable business climate. We now the maturity of its democracy, writes in 1991. This election, however, is the rank 28th in the World Bank’s Doing Beibut Atamkulov. first time that First President Nursultan Business Index. Our young population Nazarbayev is not running. is well-educated, multilingual and Beibut Atamkulov is the foreign In a relatively short time, having aspirational. minister of Kazakhstan. only gained independence during the collapse of the Soviet Union, Continued on Page 5 JUNE 2019 | SPECIAL REPORT | KAZAKHSTAN ELECTIONS | EURACTIV 5 Continued from Page 4 As part of the industrial- logistics and transport infrastructure innovative development programme enables trade between East and West, The comprehensive and decisive of Kazakhstan, launched to help North and South. reforms have ensured that we are on a diversify and decrease the dependence Kazakhstan has been conducting firm footing. Our economy continues on a resource-based economy, about and will conduct a peaceful multi- to diversify, incomes are rising, and 500 new businesses were established vector foreign policy focused on people are enjoying better quality in the last four years. the development of partnerships healthcare and education. The country remains focused with all countries of the world. As The upcoming elections are on the digitisation of the economy, our First President put it, “Due to its aimed at electing a new president the development of e-government geopolitical position and economic of the country, for whom the task of platforms, smart cities, potential, Kazakhstan does not have further improving the well-being of communications, and a completely the right to isolate itself on narrow the population, building a socially new space industry. regional problems. oriented state will also be a priority. Serious attention is also being paid This would be incomprehensible The decision of the First President to our nation’s social development. not only to our multi-ethnic to willingly step aside in favour In recent years, per capita GDP in population, but also to the entire world of a new generation of leaders Kazakhstan has increased six-fold, community. The future of Kazakhstan demonstrates the maturity of reaching more than $9,000. Over the is in Asia, and in Europe, in the East, Kazakhstan’s statehood. Kazakhstan last thirty years, more than 1,500 new and in the West”. has certainly bucked the trend in an schools were built. In the next three Kazakhstan is a young nation with age which is often characterised by years, we plan to build 200 more. an ancient history. The citizens of challenging political transitions. We are working hard to expand and Kazakhstan of various ethnic, political This election will also be the most enhance the quality of our education and religious identities have worked competitive in our nation’s history. system. Kazakhstan is ranked 9th by together over the last thirty years to Seven candidates are running, giving the level of education of young people build a stable, prosperous and open the electorate more choice than ever in the Vouchercloud rankings. society. Exercising our democratic before. One of the features of the The Bolashak (Future) international right through a national vote on electoral process is that the candidates educational scholarship programme the presidential election will help include representatives of the gives young Kazakh citizens the strengthen what we have achieved. opposition. opportunity to study internationally For our country to develop and In addition, the Ak Zhol party’s at many of the world’s leading thrive, it is important as many citizens candidate, Daniya Yespayeva, has universities. Since the programme as possible exercise their constitutional become the first woman in the history was established twenty-five years right and vote on June 9. of Kazakhstan to run for president. ago, more than 13,000 students have It is just as important for the This is another important step in our completed their studies under this international community to clearly democratic development. fully funded government scholarship. understand that, proceeding from Kazakhstan’s presidential Kazakhstan is home to more the interests of our own people, nomination process has been designed than 130 different nationalities who Kazakhstan is firmly on the path to to be robust and fair. For example, it make an important contribution to strengthening its democracy and stipulates in law that all candidates the development of our country and expanding its market economy must receive signatures from 1% of build a future for their children. A while being clearly conscious of its Kazakhstan’s registered electorate striking example of tolerance is the responsibility for the stability, security – around 118,000 people. All seven harmonious coexistence of peoples and sustainable development of not candidates, representing different from around twenty different religious only the key region of Central Asia, but policies and visions for the country, denominations. Every three years in the whole of Eurasia. have received public support from Kazakhstan, the Congress of Leaders Regardless of the outcome of the many citizens. of World and Traditional Religions is June 9 elections, our determined Despite the instability in the held, seeking to ensure interreligious course of action will continue. global economy, Kazakhstan remains and interfaith dialogue in the world. an attractive foreign investment Due to its geographical position destination in Central Asia, and and location at the heart of the accounts for more than half of the Eurasian continent, Kazakhstan has region’s GDP. also become a modern transit hub. Our 6 JUNE 2019 | SPECIAL REPORT | KAZAKHSTAN ELECTIONS | EURACTIV Tokayev set for victory as Kazakhstan transitions from Nazarbayev By Benjamin Fox | EURACTIV.com Members of the election commission prepare a polling station for the upcoming presidential elections in the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, (formerly known as Astana), on 8 June 2019. [EPA-EFE/IGOR KOVALENKO] hen Kazakhs go to the polls with Senate leader, Kassym-Jomart Nazarbayev is set to retain significant for a presidential election Tokayev, appointed interim president. powers in his title as ‘Yelbasy’ – head Won Sunday (9 June), they Tokayev called early elections the of the nation – as well as the leader of will face something of a novelty – the following month and is running as the the security council and of the ruling name of their first president, Nur- ruling party candidate. Nur Otan party. Sultan Nazarbayev, will not be on the Regional analysts expect Tokayev, a The transition is already taking ballot. former diplomat and Director-General place, said Murat Shibutov, head of the of the United Nations in Geneva, to Transparency Kazakhstan Foundation. Nazarbayev, 78, stood down as win with about 70% of the vote. Nazarbayev “preserves a certain role president in March, after nearly But Kazakhstan is still very much thirty years of uninterrupted rule, seeing a gradual political transition. Continued on Page 7 JUNE 2019 | SPECIAL REPORT | KAZAKHSTAN ELECTIONS | EURACTIV 7 Continued from Page 6 “After 14 years, I was registered as Dania Yespayeva. Her party won the representative of the opposition. 7% and 7 of the 98 seats in the in strategic decision making but the Frankly, I was not expecting that. I see Mazhilis, Kazakhstan’s lower house of operative decisions are already being positivity in this,” he added. parliament. taken without him”. The new government will be under “The results of this election will “For our political elite, it is a big pressure to move towards a more demonstrate how transparent they test of how they can govern. How competitive and open economy, and were, and this will affect relations competent can they be without him diversified away from dependence on between state and society.” (Nazarbayev)”, added Shibutov. oil and gas. Meanwhile, with observers certain Western observers have never “We are at a very transitional of a Tokayev victory, many say that, recognised elections in Kazakhstan – period,” said Zhazira Duisembekova, unlike at previous polls, it will be the last presidential poll in 2015 was a member of the civil society group, significant who places second and won by Nazarbayev with 98% – as Almarat. third. free and fair. Nazarbayev last faced an “Our economy is very commodity “In this election, it is not only opposition candidate in 2005.