Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed into law on July 11 a measure allowing only Kazakh citizens with at least five years of experience at government posts to register as presidential candidates, RFE/RL reported on the same day.
The measure is meant to prevent “ordinary” people from running for presidential office, according to Kazakh authorities. However, taking into account the unspoken Kazakh traditionalist requirements of having family ties in order access upper level government positions, the measure likely seeks to further consolidate power for Kazakhstan’s ruling elites, some analysts believe.
The constitution requires that the presidential candidates must be Kazakhstan-born, at least 40-years-old, have resided in Kazakhstan for at least 15 years and speak fluent Kazakh.
The presidential term is five-years-long with only two consecutive terms per person allowed. However, Nazarbayev – who has ruled the country since 1989 and is the last of the remaining Soviet leaders in power in the Central Asian region – can be elected indefinitely according to the First President law.
None of the elections held in Kazakhstan were so far considered free or fair.
Don’t just follow the news—understand it.
The IntelliNews PRO service includes access to reports, exclusive market data, and more news that decision-makers care about. Stay ahead of the market with IntelliNews PRO.
Sign Up NowRelated Articles
Eurasian Development Bank redeems €286mn Eurobond
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) said on March 26 it had fully redeemed a five-year Eurobond, meeting all obligations to investors at maturity. The bank paid a total of €286mn, covering both ... more
IndiGo cancels Central Asian flights until late February over Iran tensions
Indian budget carrier IndiGo has cancelled all flights to and from Tbilisi, Almaty, Baku and Tashkent until February 28 due to the developing situation around Iran, the airline announced on February ... more
Report says explosion hit pipeline that delivers Turkmen gas to Russia, but Turkmenistan no longer sells gas to Moscow
Ukrainian outlet Kyiv Post on August 2 reported sources within Ukraine's Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) as stating that an explosion in Russia disabled a section of ... more