Democracy on the Move in Kazakhstan

ASTANA, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Democracy in Kazakhstan has shifted up a gear following recent efforts of the country's President.The news ia

Parliament recently voted on a series of fundamental constitutional reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty and a strengthening of parliamentary representation, with the number of MPs in the Majilis - the lower house of parliament - now increased from 77 to 107.

In a concession to Kazakh MPs, eager to see parliamentary reforms put in place as soon as possible, President Nursultan Nazarbayev called for an early dissolution of parliament, ahead of the official end of the legislative term in 2009.

The upcoming elections take place on 18 August, and political parties have until 16 July to submit their candidate lists.

Party candidates will be voted in via a system of proportional representation, with the 98 Majilis seats to be shared out among those parties winning more than 7% of votes. The remaining nine seats are to be reserved for representatives of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan.

According to the Central Election Committee, the list submitted by the Nur Otan Party includes the maximum number of candidates allowed by law. The list includes some members of the government.

The second biggest list - comprising 114 candidates - has been submitted by the opposition Ak Zhol party.

The list submitted by the People's Social Democratic Party comprises 80 candidates.

Auyl - which positions itself mid-way between the Nur Otan party and the opposition, has submitted a list of 40 candidates, including party leader Gani Kaliev, writer Dulat Isabekov and performing artist Nurgali Nusipzhanov.

The Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan has submitted a list of 22 candidates.

The Party of Patriots of Kazakhstan has proposed 13 candidates.

Rukhaniyat has submitted a list of 11 candidates, headed by the female MP Altynshash Dzhaganova and party Vice-Chairman Anatoly Volkov.

Consensus - even amongst the opposition - is that the ruling Nur-Otan party will win the most seats.

"I am convinced that Nur-Ortan, which has proved its efficiency, potential and strength, will succeed in obtaining the credit of the people so we can proceed along the chosen path," said President Nazarbayev at the inauguration of the party's Astana-based premises on 2 July 2007. The President went on to declare his optimism: "I'm talking about a 2 or 2.5-fold growth of the national economy in the years to come, equivalent growth in living conditions, old age insurance, wage increases and the establishment of an alternative economy, fully independent of natural resources."

Election campaigning starts on July 18 and closes at midnight on August 16.

Eight parties will run for the elections.

Kazakh political expert Daniyar Ashimbayev estimates that Nur-Otan will obtain 65-70% of votes. The two opposition parties, the Ak Zhol and the People's Social-Democratic Party will compete for second place.

All other parties are confident to pass the 7% threshold.

About Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the largest, most modern of the Central Asian republics.

The country claimed sovereignty on October 26th 1990 - and independence on December 16th 1991.

In the last 16 years, under the direction of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the transition from a planned to market economy has been successfully effected.

The geopolitics of Kazakhstan make it the leading country of Central Asia - and its location an inevitable bridge to Europe.

Covering an area of 2.7 million KM2, Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world - with a population of 15.4 million people. The population comprises 100 different ethnic groups - with a religious make-up that is 57% Islam and 40% Christian. Appropriately, The Congress of World Religions is held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, triennially.

In 2006, Kazakhstan enjoyed the highest growth of all CIS member states (including Russia); the Kazakh GDP per capita rose to US$5500 This year the GDP per capita should reach US$7000 (up 27%).By 2012 Kazakhstan plans to have increased its GDP to US$13,000.In 2006 export turnover reached US $38.3 billion (imports - US $23,7 billion).

Kazakhstan has hydrocarbon reserves estimated at 110 billion barrels of oil and 5 trillion cubic metres of gas. In 2006, oil production reached 64.4 million tons and net oil exports reached 57.1 million tons. By 2015, these reserves (including the Kashagan deposit - which is the 2nd largest in the world) will make Kazakhstan an important oil producer. The National Oil Fund, established in 2000 and managed by the Ministry of Finance, aims to accumulate financial resources for future generations (this year, the Fund will exceed $ 40,000 billion).

Abundant reserves of barium, lead, tungsten, silver and zinc exist, and the country boasts the second largest global reserve of chromium, the third largest of manganese as well as significant deposit of copper, gold, and iron. Uranium in Kazakhstan (1.5 million tons) represents 19% of the world's reserves. Today, mining is underway with the aim of reaching annual production of 15,000 tonnes.

Although the oil and gas industry is the most dynamic sector of its economy, Kazakhstan is actively promoting corporate governance, increased transparency, social reforms, decentralisation, the further development of small and medium businesses, accession to the WTO and agriculture.

More than 74% of land in Kazakhstan is suitable for agriculture - which currently represents 5.5% of GDP, and employs 20% of the work force. In 2006 Kazakhstan produced 18 million tons of wheat (exporting over 6,2 million tons). The soil is also ideal for barley, rice, corn, millet and buckwheat propagation. For now, stockbreeding is the principle form of agricultural.

Kazakhstan's objective is to become one of the 50 most developed nations in the world. The World Bank has declared Kazakhstan one of the most promising locations for investment. The current Moody rating is Baa2/Baa1 and Standard & Poor's is BBB/BBB+/Positive.

Kazakhstan's currency is tenge (KZT): 1USD= 126.0 KZT.

    
    List of parties and some names of the candidates


    Nur Otan Party / 127    Ak Zhol Party / 114    People's
    candidates              candidates             Social-Democratic
                                                   Party / 80 candidates
 
                                                   Mr. Zharmakhan
    Mr.Ural Mukhamedjanov,  Mr. Alikhan Baimenov,  Tuyakbai, party
    ex-Majilis Speaker;     party leader;          leader;
 
    Mr. Sergei Diyachenko,  Mr. Maksut Narikbayev, Mr. Oraz Zhandosov,
    ex-Vice Speaker.        party leader           party leader;
 
    Mr. Aslan Musin, Vice   Ms. Lyudmila           Mr. Amirzhan Kosanov,
    Prime Minister -        Zhulanova, party       party leader;
    Minister of Economic    leader
    Affairs and Budget                             Mr. Tulegen Zhukeev,
    Panning;                Mr. Burikhan           party leader; Etc.
                            Nurmukhamedov, party
    Ms. Zagipa Balieva,     leader;
    Justice Minister;
                            Mr. Amangeldy Aitaly,
    Mr.Ermukhamet           ex-deputy of the
    Ertysbayev, Minister of Kazakh Majilis, Mr.
    Culture and             Vladimir Shokarev,
    Information;            ex-deputy of the
                            Kazakh Majilis Mr.
    Ms. Gulzhana            Myrzageldy Kemel,
    Karagusova, Minister of ex-deputy of the
    Labor and Social        Kazakh Majilis;
    Protection of the
    Population; Etc.        Mr. Sergei Udartsev,
                            layer;
    
                            Ms. Enlik Nurgalieva,
                            layer;
 
                            Ms. Maira Amantayeva,
                            representative of the
                            Federation of Trade
                            Unions of Kazakhstan;
 
                            Mr. Arystan
                            Esentugelov,
                            representative of the
                            Association of
                            Economists of
                            Kazakhstan; Etc.
 
    Auyl / 40 candidate     Communist People's     Party of Patriots of
                            Party of Kazakhstan /  Kazakhstan / 13
                            22 candidates          candidates
 
    Mr. Gani Kaliev, party  Mr. Vladislav Kosarev, Mr. Gani Kasymov,
    leader Mr. Dulat        member of the party's  party leader; Mr. Mels
    Isabekov, Kazakh        committee for Astana;  Eleusizov,
    writer; Mr. Nurgali     Mr. Erasyl             environmentalist; Etc.
    Nusipzhanov, artist;    Abylkasymov, a member
    Etc.                    of the party's
                            committee for Astana;
                            Etc.

    Rukhaniyat Party / 11 candidates
 
    Ms. Altynshash Dzhaganova, party leader;
    Mr. Vladimir Sidorking, artist;
    Mr. Kurmakul Toktagulov, head of the history-and-culture center of
    the Zhambyl oblast;
    Mr. Bulat Savkenov, a businessman; Etc.