What to expect from the elections in Kazakhstan – RIA Novosti

Rostislav Ishchenko, browser MIA “Russia today”

On Sunday, March 20 in Kazakhstan held elections to the Majilis (Parliament) and maslikhats (local representative bodies of power). Parliamentary elections are held early. And this is the fifth early elections of the seven held in the history of independent Kazakhstan.

The MPs themselves have decided to re-election ahead of the parliamentary elections and to unite with the locals. They believe that in this way the Treasury will be able to save a dozen million dollars, and the new parliament will successfully solve problems in Kazakhstan’s economy, caused by the global systemic crisis.

Motivation logical. In any case, the struggle with the crisis, as a rule, requires hard decisions, but these decisions are best taken to the deputies, who had just received the mandate (and with it – and credibility) of the people, and not those whose powers are nearing the end of the

Evaluation of the last election campaign, the Kazakh media and international observers is almost identical in essence, differing thus in semantic content.

Press Kazakhstan commended the election campaign as a calm and constructive, and the Office for democratic institutions and human Rights (ODIHR ) The OSCE described it as inconspicuous. It seems the same, but the emotional content almost diametrically opposed.

However, we can state: no serious complaints about the election campaign in Kazakhstan, the international community and the most democratic and civilized civilized democracies of the observers have not. Her honesty, transparency, and hence the result cast doubt difficult to

Actually, this is the first positive Kazakh elections -. The situation remained stable and controlled, no excesses happened, legitimacy questioned by anyone (no internal opposition or external players) is put into question not.

This is positive for Russia. Kazakhstan – our main partner in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC). It is safe to say that if not for the long-term efforts and balanced policy of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Eurasian integration project would not be realized at all. And today a stable, predictable, reliable partner in the East, given the permanent crisis on the western borders of Russia (Ukraine, Baltic States) and the Middle East, to Russia – a huge benefit

Of the seven registered in Kazakhstan political parties participated. elections take six. The election debate has demonstrated that the differences in their programs – in particular. In general, they are in favor of economic reforms aimed at reducing the dependence of the economy of Kazakhstan on export of raw materials (primarily hydrocarbons), and an increase in the share of finished products.

Sounds familiar, does not it?

© Photo: given Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry

Actually, it is the second positive election campaign in Kazakhstan. Strategic direction of development of the national economies of Russia and Kazakhstan match. This gives reason to hope for the strengthening of integration cooperation and coordination on foreign markets. But the unity of economic interests, and suggests strengthening political union.

Next. All the parties who participated in the elections, have positioned themselves as the party of social justice. But it focused on different segments of voters

The ruling -. The People’s Democratic Party of Kazakhstan “Nur Otan” ( “Fatherland Light”) represents the interests of the public sector, leading the national bureaucracy and big business. In the parliament of the 6th convocation, elected in 2012, she had an overwhelming majority (83 seats out of 107) and apparently should retain sole domination in the newly elected Majilis.

Democratic Party of Kazakhstan “Ak Zhol” ( ” Shining path “- 8 seats in the outgoing parliament) is positioning itself as the party of constructive opposition, and is focused on the voices of the liberal intelligentsia and the business-oriented to the West.

Communist People’s party of Kazakhstan (CPPK, 7 seats in Majilis 6 – convocation), needs no introduction. In past elections, the first time it was held in the Parliament, with its electoral success observers attributed to the fact that the elections had not allowed the Communist Party of Kazakhstan (CPK), which considers itself the successor of the Republican Party unit. Since the activities of the CPC suspended, and in this election, it also is not involved, there is reason to believe that (CPPK) can repeat his success.

The elections are also taking part of the party “Birlik” ( “Unity”), the People -demokraticheskaya patriotic party of Kazakhstan “Aul” and Nationwide Social Democratic party (NSDP), which took place previously 7% barrier needed to enter parliament.

The ideological preferences of the parties vying for seats in the parliament, make it possible to state the third positive. Four of the six parties (the “Nur Otan”, “Birlik”, “Aul” and NSDP) declare their commitment to the ideals of social democracy. CPPK – left the party by definition. All five of these parties also declare his internationalism. That is, the forces representing the left-internatsionalistichekuyu ideology completely dominate the electoral field in Kazakhstan.

From the point of view of Russia’s interests, where such sentiments are not only strong, but further intensified in recent years, , this coincidence of ideological preferences of the electorate – the undoubted benefit.

By the way, the only quasi-pro-Western force in Kazakh politics – the party “Ak Jol” – trying not to pedal ideological differences and prefers really constructively criticize the authorities for specific (real or apparent) miscalculations in the economy, without calling publicly questioned the chosen strategic course.

All this indicates not only the stability of the political party system, but also about being rooted in the public consciousness the basic concepts of external basis, inside and the economic policy of Kazakhstan, Astana prejudge the continuation of the course on the Eurasian integration.

of course, at this rate, there are opponents, but to break the situation they can theoretically only in the presidential election. And given the fact that Nursultan Nazarbayev held early presidential elections April 26, 2015, at present the whole system of power in the country restarted the next four years.

So, even though the elections in Kazakhstan and can not be the same entertain the OSCE observers, as the war in the Donbass, but they give Russia its confidence in the security of the home front in the East at the time of acute crisis in the West. Better bored than hot.