{"id":19638,"date":"2023-03-23T10:49:24","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T10:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=19638"},"modified":"2023-03-23T10:49:24","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T10:49:24","slug":"kazakhstans-parliamentary-election-2023-an-expert-opinion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/kazakhstans-parliamentary-election-2023-an-expert-opinion\/","title":{"rendered":"Kazakhstan\u2019s Parliamentary Election 2023: An Expert Opinion"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/h5>\n
\"\"Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan<\/h5>\n
It seems that the Republic of Kazakhstan has now achieved the real goal of \u201cFair and
\nJust Kazakhstan\u2019 after the successful holding of snap parliamentary and local elections
\nwhich were held on March 19, 2023. Ironically, even OSEC has highly appreciated
\noverall arrangement of these elections in Kazakhstan which is commendable.<\/h5>\n
Definitely, political stakes were high for the incumbent government but still there was no
\nincident of pre &amp; post political\/electoral rigging in the country which is highly
\nappreciable. It vividly reflected its firm belief in true democracy where people have free
\nwill and ballots were preferred over bullets.<\/h5>\n
There was not a single incident of any administrative preferential treatment towards any
\nparticular political party or candidate. All contesting political parties had equal access to<\/h5>\n
media and Instagram was the most favorite social media link during these elections.
\nMoreover, all political parties were equally treated in print and electronic media
\ncoverage which disseminated true color of Kazakhstan\u2019s liberal democracy which is
\nindeed a good omen for its future political maturity, stability and sustainability. Hopefully,
\nthe ruling party Amanat will secure majority in these elections.<\/h5>\n
The Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan and its regional offices did a
\nremarkable job for holding a fair, free, transparent and internationally recognized
\nelections in the country which has now further enhanced its massive drive of political
\ndiversity, existence of opposition parties, liberal democracy, listening state, impartiality
\nof the governmental administration and last but not least, checks &amp; balances, separation of power and people\u2019s centric governance in the country.<\/h5>\n
The majority of the international election observers and media also termed these
\nelections unique, interactive, positive, productive, participatory and progressive leading
\nthe country towards greater social harmony, political stability, economic sustainability
\nand constitutional consensus in the days to come.<\/h5>\n
According to its CEC more than 12 million people were eligible to vote in these
\nelections. 10,233 polling stations were operating in 17 regions and three cities of
\nnational significance i.e. Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent.\u00a0Polling stations in Kazakhstan
\nand abroad were opened at 7 a.m. and were close at 8 p.m. local time.\u00a0Kazakh citizens
\nabroad\u00a0cast their votes in 77 polling stations in 62 countries around the globe. In
\nPakistan Kazakhstan\u2019s embassy also held polling station in Islamabad.<\/h5>\n
Interestingly, seven political parties i.e. Amanat, Aq Jol Democratic Party, Auyl People\u2019s
\nDemocratic Patriotic Party, Baytaq, National Social Democratic Party, People\u2019s Party of
\nKazakhstan, and Respublica. Baytaq and Respublica rigorously participated in the
\ndemocratically held elections. Moreover, two new parties were able to participate due
\nto simplified party registration rules.<\/h5>\n
There were 281 candidates from party lists and hundreds of candidates in single
\nmandate constituencies, a novelty in this election and a sign of unprecedented political
\nactivity among citizens.\u00a0In addition to 435 candidates in single-mandate constituencies,
\nincluding 359 self-nominated candidates.<\/h5>\n
The average age of the candidates was approximately 49 years. Women comprise
\n19.54 percent (85 candidates) of the registered candidates.<\/h5>\n
The CEC accredited \u00a0793 observers from 41 foreign countries including Pakistan and 12
\ninternational organizations.\u00a0There were more than 230 foreign journalists accredited to
\ncover the election.<\/h5>\n
Critical analysis of the recently elections revealed that snap elections for the
\nKazakhstan lower house of the federal Parliament (Majilis) and local councils
\n(maslikhats) were held March 19, 2023 in which\u00a0a total of 3,749 deputies of\u00a0maslikhats
\nhave been elected, 130 in regional councils and 617 in city councils.<\/h5>\n
Frankly speaking, the 2023 snap legislative elections were test President Toqaev\u2019s
\nstructural and political reforms in the aftermath of last year\u2019s referendum and
\npresidential election and the extent to which they could facilitate the creation of a \u201cNew
\nKazakhstan\u201d.<\/h5>\n
Interestingly, Kazakhstan\u2019s elections were unique in many ways, including the
\nparticipation of two new political parties (the Green Party and the Respublika Party).
\nTwo new political parties participated in the elections, which determined the members of
\nthe lower house of parliament (Mazhilis) and regional representative bodies
\n(Maslikhats).<\/h5>\n
In this regard, significant changes have been introduced in the electoral system in
\ncomparison to previous elections following constitutional amendments last year. A
\nproportional-majoritarian model a new electoral value addition was used for the first time
\nsince 2004, where 30 per cent of Mazhilis members were elected in single-member
\ndistricts.<\/h5>\n
The threshold for political parties to gain seats in parliament has been further lowered
\nfrom seven to five per cent. Furthermore, a 30 per cent quota for women, youth, and
\npersons with special needs in party lists, both prior to the election and in the distribution
\nof mandates have become iconic electoral achievements in Kazakhstan.<\/h5>\n
Seven political parties competed in the election, including two new parties that abled to
\nparticipate due to simplified party registration rules. A total of 281 candidates from
\nseven party lists are vying for seats in the Mazhilis.<\/h5>\n
It seems that most recently elections are the most competitive legislative election in
\nKazakhstan\u2019s modern history and it is a giant step in building a Just and Fair
\nKazakhstan. It vividly reflects Kazakhstan\u2019s political wisdom and journey towards
\ngreater participatory democracy.<\/h5>\n
Undoubtedly, the mixed majority-proportional model has ensured that the entire spectrum of views and opinions of voters has been covered and included in the massive politicization and democratization at the gross root levels.<\/h5>\n
Hopefully, it finalizes its political and constitutional transition from a super-presidential
\nsystem towards the normative presidential system under a unique model which is
\npolitically innovative, interactive, integrated, coordinated and people\u2019s centric. It will
\nfurther strengthen new political structure i.e. a strong President, an influential
\nparliament, and an accountable government in the country.<\/h5>\n
To ensure full transparency and fairness, the election was monitored by the Central
\nElection Commission (CEC), and 793 observers from 12 international organizations and
\n61 countries, including the mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and
\nHuman Rights (ODIHR). The CEC took all measures to conduct the election in strict
\ncompliance with the current legislation, and ensure openness, transparency, and
\ndemocratic procedures of voting.<\/h5>\n
The incumbent government\u2019s political party namely Amanat party won 53.9 percent of
\nthe vote in a snap parliamentary election, giving President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev a
\nclear mandate to reform the nation in line with his social justice objectives.<\/h5>\n
President Tokayev first proposed holding elections to the Mazhilis and maslikhats in his
\nAddress to the Nation on September 1, 2022. He dissolved the parliament chamber and
\nterminated the powers of the maslikhats on January 19, 2023 when he announced the
\ndate of the vote. This legislative election constitutes the final stage in the political
\nrenewal cycle initiated by President Tokayev in March 2022.<\/h5>\n
A constitutional referendum was held on June 5, 2022, continued with the presidential election on November 20 last year and a Senate election on January 14 this year.<\/h5>\n
The previous legislative election in Kazakhstan took place in January 2021. Five parties
\nparticipated in that election, with three parties gaining seats in the Mazhilis the ruling
\nAmanat party (previously Nur Otan), Aq Jol, and the People\u2019s Party.<\/h5>\n
Hopefully, the rigorous participation of seven political parties in competitive elections will
\nfurther contribute to strengthening the multi-party system by increasing the plurality and
\ninfluence of opposition politics, an objective that the country has been working toward
\nfor the past several years.<\/h5>\n
In addition, an &quot;against all&quot; option was specifically included on the ballots, which gave the electorate the opportunity to express their disapproval of all candidates should they
\nwish to do so.<\/h5>\n
It is good omen that according to exit polls Sunday from Kazakhstan&#39;s early
\nparliamentary and local council elections showed that six of the seven political parties
\ncompeting for elections surpassed the threshold needed to be admitted to the lower
\nhouse of the legislature.<\/h5>\n
Hopefully, within 10 days, Kazakhstan\u2019s Central Election Commission will declare the
\nelection&#39;s final results. The turnout was 54.19 percent.<\/h5>\n
To conclude, it seems that successful holding of these elections would further
\nstrengthen Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev\u2019s massive structural reforms
\njourney allowing him to start implementing his plan to reform the country and ensuring a
\nfairer distribution of national resources.<\/h5>\n
Most recently, parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan marked the last step for the
\ncountry\u2019s complete reformation based on modernisation and democratization gradually
\nbut surely inching towards the new path promoted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart
\nTokayev. It would beginning of new era in good governance, corporate restructuring,
\npeople\u2019s friendly policies, pragmatic national and foreign policies and last but not least,
\npolitical stability.<\/h5>\n
It would further foster Tokayev\u2019s progressive economic reforms to achieve a balanced
\nregional economic development. It would accelerate economic agenda of further
\neradication of poverty, generation of new jobs and immense social development in
\nterms of provision of basic necessities of life, protection of basic human rights and last
\nbut not least, complete elimination of social and ethnic isolation, political marginalization
\nand economic comprise in the country.<\/h5>\n
It would further strengthen democracy at gross-root level, the systematic start of
\ndecentralization of the political system and beginning of financial independency in the
\ncountry.<\/h5>\n
In March 2022, Kazakhstan president proposed numerous constitutional reforms\u00a0aimed
\nat changing the entire state model and form of government in the country by limiting the
\npowers of the president, strengthening the role of Parliament, expanding the
\nparticipation of citizens in political processes and further strengthening the protection of
\nhuman rights. In this connection, most recently held elections have further transformed
\nits political system, administrative outlook and economic system.<\/h5>\n
It seems that Republic of Kazakhstan under the leadership of Tokayev has started a
\nnew journey of massive politicization and democratization in the country. It guarantees a
\nqualitative life for all the citizens and communities alike. It upholds true spirits of social
\njustice and role of the law in which there will be no more scope and place for any kind of
\npolitical elite, economic &amp; corporate cronies, concentration of wealth and last but not
\nleast, exploitation of national resources by any elite alliance in the country.<\/h5>\n
The Republic of Kazakhstan has now a new democratic system which is meant for the
\npeople, by the people and of the people.<\/h5>\n
The author is Executive Director: The Center for South Asia &amp; International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad, Regional Expert: Kazakhstan &amp; CIS<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan It seems that the Republic of Kazakhstan has now achieved the real goal of \u201cFair and Just Kazakhstan\u2019 after the successful holding of snap parliamentary and local elections which were held on March 19, 2023. Ironically, even OSEC has highly appreciated overall arrangement of these elections in Kazakhstan which is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19639,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[163,47],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19638"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19638"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19640,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19638\/revisions\/19640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}