Kazakhstan has political competition - Nazarbayev
NUR-SULTAN. May 23 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan does have political competition, which is confirmed by the fact that seven candidates are running in the presidential election, Kazakhstan's first president Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Thursday.
"There are seven candidates running in the election. That shows that our country has political competition. The candidates represent the interests of various public groups and associations. Each one has proposed his program of further development of the country and society," Nazarbayev said at a meeting with members of the republic's public headquarters of the ruling party Nur Otan.
"Equal conditions for election campaigning have been created for all candidates," the Kazakh leader said in a report posted on the presidential website.
Nazarbayev additionally said he personally controls the work of the election headquarters of the Nur Otan party, which has nominated incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for president.
Kazakhstan's extraordinary presidential election will take place on June 9.