KAZAKHSTAN: Polling stations in the Kazakh capital Astana get prepared for tomorrow's snap presidential polls

Record ID: 449795

  • Title: KAZAKHSTAN: Polling stations in the Kazakh capital Astana get prepared for tomorrow's snap presidential polls
  • Date: 3rd April 2011
  • Summary: ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (APRIL 2, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PARLIAMENT BUILDING KAZAKHSTAN'S NATIONAL FLAG ENTRANCE TO CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION SIGNBOARD PEOPLE INSIDE BUILDING SIGNBOARD READING IN KAZAKH AND RUSSIAN "1 DAY BEFORE ELECTIONS" CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION MEMBERS ENTERING BRIEFING IN CONFERENCE HALL JOURNALIST LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHAIRMAN OF CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF KAZAKHSTAN, KUANDYK TURGANKULOV, SAYING: "Today, there is a 100 per cent preparedness, ballot papers have been brought in, all the necessary attributes required by law such as posters are present at polling stations." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHAIRMAN OF CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF KAZAKHSTAN, KUANDYK TURGANKULOV, SAYING: "There are certain sociological surveys which show that voter turnout will be fairly high." PEOPLE GETTING UP AT END OF BRIEFING TRAFFIC IN STREET LARGE ELECTION POSTER FOR KAZAKH PRESIDENT NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UNIDENTIFIED PENSIONER, SAYING: "I will vote for Nazarbayev. I think there is no alternative. This is what I think." EXTERIOR OF CENTRAL SHOPPING MALL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MARAL, HOUSEWIFE, SAYING: "I can only see Nazarbayev's candidacy and that's about it. There are no other worthy candidates. Nazarbayev is the best president." VARIOUS OF ELECTION POSTER FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MELS YELEUSIZOV (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UNEMPLOYED MAN ERNEST, SAYING: "I would not even take the trouble of studying the other candidates. I think the real deeds, achievements we have now and what is being built as we observe it every day is the guarantee that this all will be continued." CITY CENTRE WITH HIGH BUILDINGS AND CARS WOMAN AND CHILD WALKING BY ANNOUNCEMENT OF EARLY ELECTIONS ON COLUMN, POLLING STATION NO 1 OF ASTANA VARIOUS OF WOMAN ARRANGING KAZAKHSTAN FLAG ON POLE INSIDE HALL BILLBOARDS FEATURING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES NAZARBAYEV'S BILLBOARD NOTICE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHAIRPERSON OF ASTANA'S NO 1 POLLING STATION, VALENTINA RYABOVA, SAYING: "Voting booths have been put up in the voting halls for secret balloting. There are stationary ballot boxes and two portable ones for use on request by our voters." KAZAKHSTAN COAT OF ARMS ON STAIRCASE WOMEN SETTING UP BALLOT BOXES BALLOT BOXES IMPROVISED STAGE WITH FLOWERED TENTS IN CITY CENTRE
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
  • Country: Kazakhstan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3RMBOL6GIE34SJZ9V8CDXST3Z
  • Story Text: Kazakhstan's polling stations are being prepared on Saturday (April 2) for elections on the eve of Sunday's Kazakhstan presidential poll in which President Nursultan Nazarbayev sees sure victory, tempering authoritarian rule with promises of stability and economic growth in a turbulent Central Asian region.
    Nazarbayev is widely expected to ensure a comfortable victory as he runs unopposed by any of the opposition candidates. Three candidates will challenge Nazarbayev in the polls, but none has publicly opposed his policies, which leaves voter turnout the only intrigue surrounding the current elections.
    The Kazakh Central Electoral Commission held a news conference setting out its main expectations regarding tomorrow's vote.
    Kuandyk Turgankulov, chairman of Kazakhstan's Central Electoral Commission, told a news conference that snap elections of the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan were being held in a stable and calm political situation.
    "Today there is a 100 per cent preparedness, ballot papers have been brought in, all the necessary attributes required by law such as posters are present at polling stations," Turgankulov said.
    Some of the opposition parties have notoriously boycotted the elections, saying they had been given little time to prepare for the polls whose outcome is fairly clear and accusing the presidential candidates of putting a quasi-democratic sheen on the whole process thus discrediting the purpose of the polls by participating in them.
    Low attendance may sour official euphoria over what state media present as popular support for "the strong leader of a successful nation".
    The Central Electoral Commission, however, believes low voter turnout is not a risk.
    "There are certain sociological surveys which show that the voter turnout will be fairly high," Kuandyk Turgankulov, chairman of Kazakhstan's Central Electoral Commission, told the news conference.
    By calling an election almost two years before the end of his current term, Nazarbayev took the disparate and weak opposition by surprise and denied it the chance to mobilise forces. Nazarbayev has publicly abstained from election campaigning, though his election posters are seen all around the city encouraging voters to opt for "the leader".
    Some analysts say the fact Nazarbayev runs practically unopposed by any serious challengers enabled the authorities to give equal air time and prominence to all of the candidates - a rare occurrence for the country.
    Members of the public seemed satisfied with promises of stability and economic prosperity and said they would vote for Nazarbayev.
    "I will vote for Nazarbayev. I think there is no alternative. This is what I think," a woman pensioner told Reuters.
    "I can only see Nazarbayev's candidacy and that's about it. There are no other worthy candidates. Nazarbayev is the best president," said Maral, a housewife.
    "I would not even take the trouble of studying the other candidates. I think the real deeds, achievements we have now and what is being built as we observe it every day is the guaranty that this all will be continued," said Ernest, an unemployed man.
    Polling stations around the country are being given the finishing touches.
    "Voting booths have been put up in the voting halls for secret balloting. There are stationary ballot boxes and two portable ones for use on request by our electors," Valentina Ryabova, chairperson of Astana's no 1 polling station, told Reuters.
    Kazakhstan has accredited a large delegation of international observers. But in its 20 year-history of independence the Central Asia's economic powerhouse has never held an election judged free or fair by international monitors.
    Kazakhstan became the first ex-Soviet state to have held the rotating chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe last year.
    In its interim report, the OSCE said mass media remain muzzled and faulty laws barred many nominees from being registered as presidential candidates.
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