Kazakh president announces appearance of new parties, tighter competition for votes

NUR-SULTAN. April 26 (Interfax) - There will be tighter competition for votes as the party and political system is modernized in Kazakhstan; new parties will appear, and the existent ones will review their operations, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

"Modernization of the party and political system will be a priority. Liberalization of party and election laws will strengthen the public's role in the decisions made at every level of authority. Competition for votes will be tighter," Tokayev said at an extraordinary congress of the ruling party Amanat, formerly Nur Otan, on Tuesday.

Tokayev said that the elaboration of constitutional amendments had begun in Kazakhstan on his orders. The amendments will aim at "comprehensive reconfiguration of the national political architecture and the establishment of a better balanced system of checks and balances between power branches," he said.

The amendments will also change the dynamics and content of the political process, he said.

"New parties will emerge in the country, and the existent ones will begin to review and adjust their activities to the current trends and needs of citizens. [...] We will end the super-presidential form of government and will strengthen powers of the parliament and Maslikhats," he said.

The ruling party was founded in 1999 at the initiative of First Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. It was first named Otan, and was renamed Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland) later. This is the biggest party in Kazakhstan.

Tokayev took charge of the Nur Otan party, which was led by Nazarbayev since the founding date, in late January 2022. The party was renamed Amanat on March 1.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Adal political party became part of Amanat.