KAZAKHSTAN: President Nursultan Nazarbayev votes in parliamentary election meant to lessen his party's dominance in the Mazhilis, or lower house of parliament, and says putting on democratic election is a 'big exam' for the Central Asian country
Record ID:
327733
KAZAKHSTAN: President Nursultan Nazarbayev votes in parliamentary election meant to lessen his party's dominance in the Mazhilis, or lower house of parliament, and says putting on democratic election is a 'big exam' for the Central Asian country
- Title: KAZAKHSTAN: President Nursultan Nazarbayev votes in parliamentary election meant to lessen his party's dominance in the Mazhilis, or lower house of parliament, and says putting on democratic election is a 'big exam' for the Central Asian country
- Date: 16th January 2012
- Summary: ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (JANUARY 15, 2012) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) ASTANA ROADWAY, WITH BAITEREK MONUMENT IN BACKGROUND SNOW MACHINE CLEARING SIDEWALK GOLD BALL OF BAITEREK MONUMENT VARIOUS NATIONAL ACADEMIC ACADEMIC LIBRARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN, WHERE POLLING STATION NO.182 IS LOCATED PEOPLE ENTERING DOORS TO LIBRARY SIGN READING IN KAZAKH AND RUSSIAN 'IMPORTANT FOR YOU, IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTRY' VARIOUS VOTERS ENTERING POLLING HALL KAZAKH PRESIDENT NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV WALKING TOWARD REGISTRATION TABLE AND SITTING DOWN CAMERAMEN NAZARBAYEV WALKING INTO VOTING BOOTH WOMEN CASTING BALLOTS NAZARBAYEV WALKING TO BALLOT BOX, LOOKING AT BALLOT PAPERS AND PLACING THEM INSIDE OF BOX NAZARBAYEV'S HANDS PLACING BALLOTS INSIDE OF BOX (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KAZAKH PRESIDENT NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV, SAYING: "I am sure that as always, Kazakh people will vote for the stability of our country, for the calm of our country, and therefore for the development and well-being of all Kazakhs. We've done everything necessary to make open fair elections. This is a big exam for us. We have more than 1,000 observers working from all over the world. I am sure that Kazakhs will make a right vote for their own future, for our development, for the safe life in our homeland for the multi-national population of our country. I wish success to you all." OBSERVERS WATCHING
- Embargoed: 31st January 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
- Country: Kazakhstan
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVALZD2J2T26CL3PGAE1LJD9LDG
- Story Text: Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev voted on Sunday (January 15, 2012) in a parliamentary election that was expected to introduce a second party in the Mazhilis, or lower house of parliament, and ease growing discontent after deadly riots shook the image of stability prized by the veteran leader of Central Asia's largest economy and oil producer.
Elections were originally planned for August 2012, but Nazarbayev brought them forward by dissolving parliament in November 2011 and setting a new date.
No-one doubts Nur Otan, which held 98 of 107 seats in the last parliament, will win the election by a landslide, but for the first time, the second-place party will automatically be guaranteed seats in the chamber, rather than having to meet a 7 percent vote threshold. But Nazarbayev's most critical opponents have been barred from standing, and the party that is expected to come second is a pro-business group led by a former ruling party member.
Nazarbayev voted early Sunday at polling station No. 192, at the Kazakh national academic library, in the centre of Kazakhstan's showpiece capital Astana.
After examining and casting his ballot, the 71-year old leader, in power since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, said he hoped for success in the election in the country that has never held an election deemed fair by monitors.
"I am sure that as always, Kazakh people will vote for the stability of our country, for the calm of our country, and therefore for the development and well-being of all Kazakhs. We've done everything necessary to make open fair elections. This is a big exam for us. We have more than 1,000 observers working from all over the world. I am sure that Kazakhs will make a right vote for their own future, for our development, for the safe life in our homeland for the multi-national population of our country. I wish success to you all," Nazarbayev said.
Outside of the polling station, voters said they had similar hopes.
Film director Asilkhan Salubek said welcoming new parties into the parliament would be welcomed by the Kazakhs.
"This time we think and hope that there will be a lot of parties now. Only then will it be the truth that people hoped for," Salubek said.
Voter Arman agreed.
"There should be competition of course. Competition stimulates the government to work more effectively," Arman said.
Nazarbayev remains overwhelmingly popular throughout most of his mainly Muslim country of 16.7 million people. Its relative wealth has ensured Kazakhstan was long spared the sort of unrest seen in other former Soviet republics in Central Asia.
But complaints have grown that many have remained poor while an elite few grew rich. Anger erupted last month in the remote western region of Mangistau, where oilmen sacked by their state-owned employers had been protesting for seven months. Officials say 17 people were killed in clashes during which police fired live rounds on protesters.
While one aim of bringing the vote forward from August is to install a new government to tackle a looming economic crisis, Kazakhstan also wants to boost its democratic credentials. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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