A leader of Kazakhstan's ruling party recently floated a suggestion for constitutional changes redefining the role of the president, opening the door to making President Nursultan Nazarbeyev head of state for life.
The comments came one week after the president's website and state television ran a eulogy of Nazarbayev that called for an end to democratic elections, sparking speculation that such a change was in t
he works. The idea was allegedly proposed to the president by Zakratdin Baidosov, a professor in the northwestern city of Aqtobe, during a recent visit there by Nazarbaev.
Nazarbayev is the recognized leader of Nur Otan party, which controls all elected seats in the lower house of parliament. He has always sought to maintain the semblance of democracy in his one-party state. Officially, Nazarbayev received 91 percent of the vote in the last presidential election in 2005, which was declared flawed by international observers. The country's pliant parliament did away with restrictions on presidential term limits in 2007, opening the door for Nazarbayev - who has run the country since the Soviet days and after independence - to continue ruling the ex-Soviet state indefinitely.
With this latest development opposition leaders were adamant over the suggestion that Nazarbaye
v should be freed from a fundamental democratic check against executive excess. Some issued dire warnings about Kazakhstan’s future if the president-for-life concept became a reality.
On the international front as well eliminating further elections would likely be a controversial move, as Kazakhstan prepares to take over the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE in January. Allegations of restricting independent media and rights groups - including a recent arrest of the country's most prominent human rights activist – has prompted criticism from rights groups.
Nevertheless Nazarbayev is genuinely popular among ordinary Kazakhs. He has been applauded for forging relative social harmony in a country where 130 ethnic groups live. Popular pride in Kazakhstan is heightened by the country’s favorable comparisons with neighboring states, which are more economically stressed and politically unstable. Nazarbayev’s critics however say that his positive image is partly the product of the administration’s tight control over mass media
Recent polls show Nazarbayev’s approval rating remains high: research conducted in May by Baltic Surveys Ltd. and The Gallup Organization indicated he enjoys the support of 84 percent of the population.[1]
The presidential administration has denied being behind the president-for-life ‘trial balloon’, claiming it to be the initiative of ‘specific people’. They have further stressed that the issue is not on the administration’s agenda. The speculations however have sparked a national debate which may determine the course of Kazakhstan’s democratic credentials in the long term.
Discussion Questions:
The comments came one week after the president's website and state television ran a eulogy of Nazarbayev that called for an end to democratic elections, sparking speculation that such a change was in t
he works. The idea was allegedly proposed to the president by Zakratdin Baidosov, a professor in the northwestern city of Aqtobe, during a recent visit there by Nazarbaev.Nazarbayev is the recognized leader of Nur Otan party, which controls all elected seats in the lower house of parliament. He has always sought to maintain the semblance of democracy in his one-party state. Officially, Nazarbayev received 91 percent of the vote in the last presidential election in 2005, which was declared flawed by international observers. The country's pliant parliament did away with restrictions on presidential term limits in 2007, opening the door for Nazarbayev - who has run the country since the Soviet days and after independence - to continue ruling the ex-Soviet state indefinitely.
With this latest development opposition leaders were adamant over the suggestion that Nazarbaye
v should be freed from a fundamental democratic check against executive excess. Some issued dire warnings about Kazakhstan’s future if the president-for-life concept became a reality.On the international front as well eliminating further elections would likely be a controversial move, as Kazakhstan prepares to take over the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE in January. Allegations of restricting independent media and rights groups - including a recent arrest of the country's most prominent human rights activist – has prompted criticism from rights groups.
Nevertheless Nazarbayev is genuinely popular among ordinary Kazakhs. He has been applauded for forging relative social harmony in a country where 130 ethnic groups live. Popular pride in Kazakhstan is heightened by the country’s favorable comparisons with neighboring states, which are more economically stressed and politically unstable. Nazarbayev’s critics however say that his positive image is partly the product of the administration’s tight control over mass media
Recent polls show Nazarbayev’s approval rating remains high: research conducted in May by Baltic Surveys Ltd. and The Gallup Organization indicated he enjoys the support of 84 percent of the population.[1]
The presidential administration has denied being behind the president-for-life ‘trial balloon’, claiming it to be the initiative of ‘specific people’. They have further stressed that the issue is not on the administration’s agenda. The speculations however have sparked a national debate which may determine the course of Kazakhstan’s democratic credentials in the long term.
Discussion Questions:
· Does Nazarbayev’s popularity in national polls, despite International Observers having termed the elections flawed, neutralize allegations of a pseudo democratic Kazakhstan?
· Is the mere suggestion of a ‘president for life’ political option reflective of a nation devoid of a robust democratic conscience?
· Is the national debate too short sighted in essence, banking excessively on Nazerbayev’s unifying leadership, at the expense of developing credible institutions?
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Bibliography:
[1] Kazakh National Opinion Poll, conducted May 9- 23, 2009. http://www.iri.org/newsreleases/pdfs/IRI%20Southern%20Kazakhstan%20May%202009%20PDF%20-%20English.pdf § http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=party-leader-kazakhstan-to-consider-lifelong-presidency-2009-09-15
§ http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav092409.shtml
§ http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav091307.shtml
§ http://www.rferl.org/content/OSCE_Mum_On_Kazakh_PresidentForLife_Initiative/1825942.html
§ http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav061909.shtml
________________________________________________________[1] Kazakh National Opinion Poll, conducted May 9- 23, 2009. http://www.iri.org/newsreleases/pdfs/IRI%20Southern%20Kazakhstan%20May%202009%20PDF%20-%20English.pdf § http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=party-leader-kazakhstan-to-consider-lifelong-presidency-2009-09-15
§ http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav092409.shtml
§ http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav091307.shtml
§ http://www.rferl.org/content/OSCE_Mum_On_Kazakh_PresidentForLife_Initiative/1825942.html
§ http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav061909.shtml
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