Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu paid a working visit to Brussels and held talks with high-ranking representatives of the European Union to discuss the current agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation and promising areas for its further development, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the ministry .

As noted, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell warmly welcomed the first visit of Murat Nurtleu as head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry to the EU capital.

During the meeting, the diplomats reviewed a wide range of multifaceted relations between Astana and Brussels under the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the EU. The regular nature and increased dynamics of political dialogue at the highest and high levels, a noticeable increase in economic cooperation and the volume of European investments were noted.

As specified, the parties paid special attention to discussing practical steps to develop cooperation in the fields of energy, transport and logistics, digitalization, civil aviation, production and use of critical raw materials. Measures were considered to strengthen cooperation in the development of education and science, advanced technologies and innovations .

During the meeting, Borrell underlined the firm commitment of European diplomacy to further expand and strengthen cooperation with Astana through the implementation of a number of specific measures and projects that will respond to the significant untapped potential of cooperation.

“We are closely following the modernization of your country and support President Tokayev’s large-scale political reforms aimed at building a Just Kazakhstan. This year, the European Union and Kazakhstan celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and during this time we have laid a strong foundation for partnership,” the High Representative said. EU.

According to the agency, the interlocutors exchanged views on topical issues on the international agenda, including regional security, cooperation in Central Asia and the situation in Afghanistan. The parties also discussed measures to mitigate the possible negative consequences of European sanctions for the Kazakh economy.

At a meeting with the Chief Advisor to the President of the European Council for Foreign Policy Simon Mordu, the Minister noted the productive visit of President Charles Michel to Astana in October 2022 and the success of his first meeting with the leaders of Central Asian countries.

The interlocutors stressed that these events gave a powerful impetus to the further strengthening of bilateral and interregional cooperation. The parties are working on preparing a second meeting in this format in the near future, which is designed to continue the process of deepening interregional cooperation between Central Asia and the EU.

During the visit, which took place in a business like and constructive atmosphere, the minister presented Borrell and Mord with high state awards – the Dostyk orders of the first and second degrees, respectively – for their significant contribution to strengthening and developing cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the EU.

In general, Nurtleu’s visit to the capital of the European Union made it possible to outline priority areas for cooperation, discuss specific measures and steps to further deepen relations between the parties.

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Kazakhstan is gearing up for snap elections of the lower house of parliament on March 19, and there is a sense of anticipation in the air. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who came to power in 2019, called for snap elections in the wake of the deadly street protests in January 2022. The elections are part of the president’s ambitious reform agenda, Jana Kazakhstan (New Kazakhstan), which aims to usher in a new era of political liberalization.

Kazakhstan is gearing up for snap elections of the lower house of parliament on March 19 as part of the President Tokayev’s ambitious reform agenda, Jana Kazakhstan (New Kazakhstan)

The parliamentary elections are stage two of Tokayev’s program, following his re-election winning 80 percent of the votes last November. The coming elections will see 70 percent of the country´s lawmakers elected through party lists, while the remaining seats will be contested in single-member districts. While it has become easier to register a new political party on paper, there are concerns that the Justice Ministry is still rejecting applications from anyone critical of the government. Party registration remains difficult, especially for anyone critical of the government, and this has raised concerns about the potential for a “pocket parliament” controlled by the presidential administration.

Despite these concerns, a couple of parties have made it through the registration process, becoming the first new parties to be registered in two decades. The Respublica party, led by once-apolitical businessman Beibit Alibekov, has been approved and supports advancing Tokayev’s Jana Kazakhstan agenda. The Baitak party bills itself as a green party, but its leader, Azamatkhan Amirtayev, has faced criticism for taking the side of officials in a dispute with eco-activists over plans to drain a local lake.

Legacy parties from the Nazarbayev era, such as Amanat (formerly Nur Otan), are not looking as strong as they once did, with the ultimate loyalties of these parties far from certain. The rural interests Auyl (Village) party and the National Social Democratic Party, or OSDP, are also contesting, but the OSDP is recently considered a spent force.

Despite the challenges, there is a sense of hope amongst the people that the lower house parliamentary elections will pave the way for a more democratic Kazakhstan. Tokayev has made it clear that he wants to build a new Kazakhstan, free from the corrupt cronyism that prevailed in the Nazarbayev era. The president’s sweeping reform agenda includes political liberalization and the elections are an important step in that direction.

The people of Kazakhstan are eagerly awaiting the results of the elections and are hoping that they will mark a turning point in the country’s history. “It is important for Tokayev that new personalities appear in the Majilis who are going to participate in the construction of a New Kazakhstan while also respecting the political rules established by the authorities,” Tolganay Umbetaliyeva, Director General of the Central Asian Foundation for Democracy, said.

With new parties emerging and the potential for change on the horizon, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of democracy in Kazakhstan. By doing so, Kazakhstan can take a major step towards a more democratic future. The government must ensure that the elections are free and fair, and that all parties and candidates have an equal chance to participate. Political observers are cautiously optimistic but point out the big bear in the room, Russia. The question how the regime in Moscow will react to the liberalization moves remains a riddle.

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Kazakhstan held snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, March 19. The elections further strengthen President Kassyim-Jomart Tokayev’s leadership and power since he assumed a new term of presidency late last year. 

The elections come as part of Tokayev’s ambitious plan to modernize Kazakhstan and turn it into a “model nation” for Central Asia called New Kazakhstan. The snap polls are the first step in his five-year program, which includes constitutional reforms, economic development, and social reforms. 

Polling stations opened at 8am local time on Sunday morning with over 10 million eligible voters casting their ballots for 77 members of parliament – 19 from each of the four major political parties. 

The elections are seen as an important step forward for Kazakhstan’s democracy as it seeks to modernize its economy and become a leader among Central Asian countries. The results of this election will shape the future development path that “New Kazakhstan” takes under President Tokayev’s leadership during his five-year term in office.

The election results show that President Tokayev has a strong mandate to pursue his reform agenda, including proposed changes to the constitution that would increase presidential powers and reduce those held by Parliament. He also plans to introduce legislation on human rights protection and anti-corruption measures as well as economic initiatives such as tax cuts for businesses and individuals. 

Kazakhstan is seen as one of the most stable countries in Central Asia region thanks largely due its vast oil reserves , but much work remains to be done if it wants to become a model nation . It will be interesting see what new policies President Tokayev can implement in order bring about real change while retaining stability .

Exit polls Sunday from Kazakhstan’s early parliamentary and local council elections showed that six of the seven political parties running for office crossed the threshold needed to be admitted to the lower house of the legislature. Voter turnout stood at 54.2%, the Central Election Commission said. This is the lowest turnout for parliamentary elections in the nation’s history since independence. Within 10 days, Central Election Commission will declare the election’s final results.

According to a survey conducted by the Eurasian Integration Institute covering 30,000 voters at 200 polling stations, including 124 in cities and 76 in villages, the ruling Amanat Party ranked first with 53.46% of the vote, enough to retain a comfortable majority. The Auyl People’s Democratic Party came in second with 10.52%, and the Respublika Party, which participated for the first time in the elections, came in third with 8.9%. The Aq Jol Democratic Party received 7.87%, the People’s Party of Kazakhstan 6.25%, the National Social Democratic Party 5.31% and the Baytaq Party 3.22%. Besides the Baytaq Party, the new green party that fell short of the 5% requirement to enter Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament, the other six political parties achieved the necessary score to be admitted to the parliament.

A total of 281 candidates from seven party lists competed for 69 seats in the Mazhilis, in addition to hundreds of candidates in 29 single-mandate constituencies, mostly self-nominated. Meanwhile, 793 international observers from 41 foreign states and 12 international organizations monitored the election.

Irene Charalambides, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Co-ordinator and Leader of the short-term observers, said that her organization has noted some improvements, including related to election laws, but Kazakhstan would only achieve the stated political goal of democratic development if far reaching reforms continue. Overall, the accreditation of citizen and international observers was inclusive. although meaningful observation was not always ensured, due to restrictions during the counting and tabulation processes.

Tokayev, who cast his ballot in Astana early Sunday morning, said the vote would allow him to start implementing his plan to reform the Central Asian country and ensure a fairer distribution of its oil wealth. The complete political transition is also likely to strengthen Tokayev’s position in foreign policy. Both Tokayev and 82-year-old former president Nursultan Nazarbayev cast their vote on Sunday morning.

A stronger mandate will help Tokayev navigate through regional turmoil caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the damages on trade, investment and supply chains throughout the former Soviet Union. While Tokayev has reshuffled the government after he formally became president in 2019, the lower house of parliament, which was elected when Nazarbayev still had sweeping power and led the ruling Nur Otan party, was not due for election until 2026. Therefore, Tokayev called for a snap election.

Despite receiving Moscow’s backing during the 2022 unrest, Tokayev has refused to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or recognize its annexation of some Ukraine’s territories. Under Tokayev’s administration, Astana is trying to maintain good relationships with all major players, including Moscow, its neighbour and major trading partner, as well as China, its neighbour to the East, and the West.

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The parliamentary elections are stage two of Tokayev’s program, following his re-election winning 80 percent of the votes last November. The coming elections will see 70 percent of the country´s lawmakers elected through party lists, while the remaining seats will be contested in single-member districts. While it has become easier to register a new political party on paper, there are concerns that the Justice Ministry is still rejecting applications from anyone critical of the government. Party registration remains difficult, especially for anyone critical of the government, and this has raised concerns about the potential for a “pocket parliament” controlled by the presidential administration.

Kazakhstan will have snap elections of the lower house of parliament on March 19. President Tokayev called for snap elections in the wake of the deadly street protests in January 2022.The elections are part of the president’s ambitious reform agenda, Jana Kazakhstan (New Kazakhstan)

Despite these concerns, a couple of parties have made it through the registration process, becoming the first new parties to be registered in two decades. The Respublica party, led by once-apolitical businessman Beibit Alibekov, has been approved and supports advancing Tokayev’s Jana Kazakhstan agenda. The Baitak party bills itself as a green party, but its leader, Azamatkhan Amirtayev, has faced criticism for taking the side of officials in a dispute with eco-activists over plans to drain a local lake.

Legacy parties from the Nazarbayev era, such as Amanat (formerly Nur Otan), are not looking as strong as they once did, with the ultimate loyalties of these parties far from certain. The rural interests Auyl (Village) party and the National Social Democratic Party, or OSDP, are also contesting, but the OSDP is recently considered a spent force.

Despite the challenges, there is a sense of hope amongst the people that the lower house parliamentary elections will pave the way for a more democratic Kazakhstan. Tokayev has made it clear that he wants to build a new Kazakhstan, free from the corrupt cronyism that prevailed in the Nazarbayev era. The president’s sweeping reform agenda includes political liberalization and the elections are an important step in that direction.

The people of Kazakhstan are eagerly awaiting the results of the elections and are hoping that they will mark a turning point in the country’s history. “It is important for Tokayev that new personalities appear in the Majilis who are going to participate in the construction of a New Kazakhstan while also respecting the political rules established by the authorities,” Tolganay Umbetaliyeva, Director General of the Central Asian Foundation for Democracy, said.

With new parties emerging and the potential for change on the horizon, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of democracy in Kazakhstan. By doing so, Kazakhstan can take a major step towards a more democratic future. The government must ensure that the elections are free and fair, and that all parties and candidates have an equal chance to participate. Political observers are cautiously optimistic but point out the big bear in the room, Russia. The question how the regime in Moscow will react to the liberalization moves remains a riddle.

The post Jana Kazakhstan (New Kazakhstan): Overhauling the Old appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

New York, Brussels, Astana (18/1 – 60).

After facing the most challenging year in 2022, Kazakhstan continues its political modernization. Under the second term of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev who has been reelected in November, Central Asia’s richest country will enjoy more democracy in 2023. This year will be the moment for President Tokayev to prove his vows to step up changes for the ’New Kazakhstan’.

End of the Oligarch

As the world witnessed, in January 2022, Kazakhstan was ripped apart by the nationwide protest that led to the most violent unrest in the country’s modern history. 238 people dead and thousands of protesters were arrested. The ‘Bloody January’ rallies were not merely sparked by high fuel prices, the protesters also highlighted political issues. Especially regarding former president Nursultan Nazarbayev who withstand his more-than-30-year powerful authority after his resignation.

The upheaval made Tokayev strip Nazarbayev from the role of head of Kazakh’s Security Council. Tokayev, who was ‘handpicked’ by Nazarbayev himself in 2019, also removed his predecessor’s loyalists and removed protections for the Nazarbayev family. In aftermath of ‘Bloody January’, Tokayev outlined large-scale economic and political reform.

“The era of oligarchic capitalism is coming to an end in Kazakhstan. The era of the state’s social responsibility towards its citizens is coming,” Tokayev said in October during his visit to Karaganda province.

Building a new economy far from Nazarbayev’s influences, Kazakhstan promises to reduce participation of the state as well as administration barriers. It is meant to solve many complaints by businesses against authorities such as the anti-corruption service and the police.

Challenging Laws

To ensure the implementation of his reform populist agenda in the political sector, Tokayev also appointed a new government. In addition to Alikhan Smailov as the new Prime Minister, young progressive figures rose to the highest ranks of the cabinet. For example, Zulfiya Suleimenova as the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, and Askhat Oralov as the Minister of Culture and Sports. Both are 32 years old.

This year, the former Soviet country will also directly elect heads of administrations in hundreds of districts and cities. The statement was revealed by Erlan Karin, Kazakh’s State Counselor. “The renewal of the corps of rural akims (heads of administrations). It is planned to hold direct elections of more than 350 mayors of villages, towns, and rural districts. These elections will cover more than a thousand rural settlements,” Karin said

Another proof is Kazakh’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has completed registration stages for 66 regional candidates to participate in Senate Election that took place on 14 January. The election uses a new system and rules to determine 20 deputy seats in the highest representative body of the Republic exercising legislative power.

Chairperson of Senate Maulen Ashimbayev says that the election will bring well-qualified lawyers to the Senate to overcome challenging state legislation. “We have many challenging law, the most recent bankruptcy law is the most complicated. We’ll see how it turns out. Still, I believe there will be many questions, and we will learn what the flaws are. As a result, strong lawyers are required to comprehend such legislation,” Ashimbayev explained.

Packed with domestic fundamental changes agenda, it is worth seeing how President Tokayev runs his administration to achieve ‘New Kazakhstan. Questions remain, what is the price of the reform? And how it will affect Kazakh’s diplomatic relations with other countries, especially the two giant neighbors, China and Russia?

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Astana, Brussels, Berlin (15 January 2023 – 50).

Twenty senators representing 17 regions and three cities of national significance were elected on January 14 to the Senate, an upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, according to the preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC).

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the date of the Senate election during his inauguration ceremony on November 26, 2022, saying that the election is part of a broader program of political renewal of the country’s system of government. President Tokayev signed a decree on measures to implement the pre-election program “Fair Kazakhstan is for everyone and for everyone. Now and Forever.” One of his first orders was to hold elections “with the establishment of the parliament and maslikhatson the basis of the new electoral system, on party lists and single-member districts, by June 2023.

Two weeks into 2023, Senate elections saw 55 candidates competing for 20 seats in the Senate. The elected candidates received the required threshold of more than 50 percent of the electors’ votes, ranging from a minimum of 61.7 percent for the Ulytau Region candidate to a maximum of 90.9 percent for a candidate from the Akmola Region.

Two women made it to the Senate, corresponding to 10 percent of the elected candidates. They represented the North Kazakhstan Region and Almaty.

The voters’ turnout across regions could be monitored online on the CEC website. A quorum, when at least 50 percent of present electors cast their votes in all regions, has been reached by 10:45 a.m., 45 minutes past the start of the election. Preliminary results were announced at 1 p.m.

The final results are to be announced by Jan. 20.

The Senate election is part of a broader program of political renewal of the country’s system of government initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Elections to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Parliament, and maslikhat, local representative bodies, are expected to be held in the first half of 2023. 

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