On January 10 next year, the parliamentary elections will be held in Kazakhstan, according to an edict signed by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, president of Kazakhstan.
In his national address, the president announced that all political parties have time to prepare and take part in the upcoming election campaigns; to develop their election platforms and improve the party’s infrastructure.
«The institution of parliamentary opposition was introduced by the amendments to the laws ‘On the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the status of its deputies’ and ‘On the parliament’s committees and commissions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.’ These changes will regulate the activities of that institution. One chairman and two secretaries who will be joining standing committees of the Majilis (the lower chamber of the Kazakhstani parliament) must represent the parliamentary opposition,» he said.
As Tokayev noted the parliamentary opposition will have a right to call one parliamentary hearing during the session and to determine the agenda for meetings with government representatives at least twice per session. Leaders of the political parties’ factions can speak freely at all joint parliamentary sessions and hearings, meetings of standing committees and task groups, etc.
«The Constitutional Law ‘On elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan’ and the Law ‘On political parties’ for the first time in our parliament history introduce a 30% quota in party lists for women and youth. This norm must be an effective mechanism to involve women and youth in parliament and local representative bodies. So, they would be able to participate in the country’s political life more actively,» the president stated.
The upcoming elections to Maslikhats (local representative bodies) will also be held by party lists. This proportional model fully meets international best practices, strengthens the whole political system, facilitates the development of democracy, and makes political parties play a bigger role.
«These innovations will provide the parties with additional opportunities to strengthen their positions in the country’s political system,» summed up Tokayev.
The last parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan in 2016 were the seventh in the history of independent Kazakhstan and the fifth extraordinary elections. Among the six political parties that took part in that election, three were able to pass over the 7% barrier: Nur Otan (82.15%), Democratic Party of Kazakhstan «Ak Zhol» (7.18%) and Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan (7.14%).
