Legislative Election in Kazakhstan (2016)

The 2016 elections are extraordinary. On January 22, 2016, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued a decree to dissolve the Mazhilis on the appeal made on January 13, 2016 by the deputies of the current Mazhilis of the 5th convocation, whose powers expire in the fall of 2016.

The main reasons for the termination of the powers of the current convocation, the deputy called the fulfillment by the current convocation of “ his historical mission ” by creating “the legislative framework for the implementation of the“ Plan of the Nation ” , the need for“ broad public consolidation in a responsible time ”, as well as“ combining parliamentary elections with local elections Maslikhats . "

The experts also see the reason for the early elections as the authorities are afraid of destabilizing the situation in Kazakhstan against the backdrop of the intensifying economic crisis: the growth of social tension as a result of unpopular anti-crisis measures by the government increases the risks of social instability and a decrease in the power rating by the end of 2016 - the constitutional term of the elections.

At the same time, experts note that the factor of unexpectedness precludes the full preparation of already fragmented and weakened local opposition and pro-Western groups, making it impossible for a long and pre-planned electoral campaign ^[2] . Despite the fact that the personnel changes in the leadership of the presidential party “Nur Otan” and the reorganization of the party system were carried out in the summer and autumn of 2015.

The previous election took place in January 2012. Seven parties took part in them, three of them were able to overcome the 7% barrier - the party of power "Nur Otan" (83 seats), the party "Ak Zhol" (8 seats) and the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan (7 seats).

According to analysts, the planned distribution of votes will be approximately the same ^[3] .

It is also expected to change the status of Dariga Nazarbayeva, who was appointed deputy prime minister in September 2015: Kazakhstani political scientists are expecting the president’s daughter to take the chair of the Mazhilis.

The elections will make it possible to include in the parliament a newly created Auyl party , designed to consolidate national-patriotic moods, and recreated Birlik.

Since February 2016, the election campaign began.

According to the Central Election Commission, six parties are participating in the elections - Nur Otan , the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan (KNPK), Ak Zhol , Birlik , Auyl and the National Social Democratic Party (OSDP) ^[4] .

According to the results of voting, 3 parties went to parliament: “Nur Otan” - 82.15% of the vote; The Democratic Party of Kazakhstan "Ak Zhol" - 7.18%, the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan - 7.14% ^[5] . The People's Democratic Patriotic Party “Auyl” gained two percent of the vote, the National Social Democratic Party (NSDP) - 1.18 percent; Party "Birlik" - 0.29 percent ^[6] .

Voting took place at 9840 polling stations, of which 65 polling stations were opened at representative offices of Kazakhstan in other states. The voter lists included 9,791,165 people. 7,500,000 Kazakhstanis voted. Voter turnout in the elections amounted to 77.1 percent of Kazakhstanis, the highest was in Almaty Oblast - 94.06%, and the lowest - in Almaty (34.1%) ^[7] .

According to the results of the elections, a deputies corps consisting of 107 people was replaced, of which 98 deputies were elected by party lists, and 9 were delegated to the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan.

Information that the new deputies live in one of the best hotels in Astana with a price of 120 thousand tenge (about 300 US dollars) per day has caused outrage among the population of Kazakhstan. ^[8] This amount exceeds the average salary in Kazakhstan. ^[8] Also, dissatisfaction was caused by the message, which said: “The Republican State Enterprise“ Directorate of Administrative Buildings of the Economic Administration of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan ”, on the basis of economic management, is studying the alcohol market for the purchase of alcohol. The state-owned enterprise asks to contact all the companies involved in the sale of strong drinks. ” ^[9]

• Extraordinary parliamentary elections to be held in Kazakhstan , Interfax, January 20, 2016
• M. Likhachev - Early Parliamentary Elections , Russian Institute for Strategic Studies , January 25, 2016
• Regular snap election in Kazakhstan , Deutsche Welle