Kazakhstan parties finalize candidate lists for kurultai elections
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Kazakhstan's political parties have finalized their candidate lists for the kurultai elections scheduled for August 23. The ruling Amanat party submitted the longest list with 186 candidates, while the opposition OSDP presented the shortest with 33. The process was marked by internal disputes and a last-minute exclusion of several candidates from the Baiytak party.
Candidate Lists
Seven parties submitted candidate lists for the kurultai elections. Respublica was first, nominating 76 candidates, 70% of whom are new faces, including Azamat Marklen, co-founder of the band 'Irina Kairatovna'. Ak Zhol submitted 63 candidates, including former chairman Azat Peruashev. Auyl selected 69 candidates, excluding former Mazhilis deputies Anas Bakkozha and Ayan Zeinullin. The People's Party of Kazakhstan (NPK) nominated 72 candidates, including actress Venera Nigmatulina, singer Asha Matai, and blogger Igor Gnoevoy. OSDP presented the shortest list with 33 candidates. Baiytak included 53 candidates, but several were excluded before the congress, prompting calls for the chairman's resignation. Adilet submitted the largest list of 186 candidates, including party chairman Aibek Dadebai, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Erlan Karin, and Kazakhtelecom CEO Bagdat Musin.
Election Monitoring and Social Media
On July 8, the Erkindik Kanaty foundation announced it would not send observers to the parliamentary elections, citing security risks and severe restrictions on observer functions. The same day, the Instagram accounts of 'Uralskaya Nedelya' were blocked after complaints from a fake account, according to editor-in-chief Tamara Yeslyamova. The outlet had previously posted a story about the Constitutional Court's decision allowing the nullification of President Tokayev's term. On July 9, Instagram blocked the account of the 'League of Young Voters', which had just announced a campaign to monitor the kurultai elections, according to director Irina Mednikova.
Poverty and Fuel Controls
The Bureau of National Statistics reported that nearly 5% of Kazakhstan's population lives below the poverty line. The government has tightened controls on fuel exports and extended the ban on petroleum product exports. The National Bank does not expect a significant change in the dollar exchange rate.
What's Next
The kurultai elections are scheduled for August 23, with parties now finalizing their campaigns. It remains unclear how the blocking of observer organizations' social media accounts will affect election monitoring and transparency.
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Kazakhstan parties finalize candidate lists for kurultai elections
