ASTANA – The tragic occasions of January and the nation’s socio-political scenario revealed that society strongly wants basic enhancements within the public administration system. This yr noticed the logical continuation of the systemic political transformation that began in 2019 with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s win within the presidential elections.
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Usually, the strategic course of President Tokayev, aimed toward constructing a Simply Kazakhstan, is essentially the most essential issue within the complete renewal of the nation. The overwhelming majority of Kazakh residents assist the said course. In response to the Institute of World Economics and Politics’ September survey knowledge, practically 80 % of Kazakh folks polled imagine that the nation is on target.
A big-scale program of political reforms, a constitutional reform voted on by residents in a referendum, and early presidential elections have been among the many most key occasions in home political life in 2022. Collectively they launched the method of rebooting crucial governmental establishments.
Arman Toktushakov.
Political Reform Program Introduced in March
In March, President Tokayev introduced a large-scale program of political reforms. They included shifting away from the extreme focus of presidential powers, strengthening the Parliament, simplifying the process for registering events, enhancing the position of native governments, and enhancing the judicial and regulation enforcement methods.
One of many key instructions is the development of a hybrid proportional-majority electoral system with a 70 to 30 ratio within the Mazhilis (a decrease chamber of the Kazakh Parliament) and a 50 to 50 ratio within the regional Maslikhats (native consultant our bodies) to type a extra harmonious electoral mannequin that considers the rights of all residents.
Specifically, those that aren’t celebration members could be elected to the best consultant physique by means of single-mandate constituencies. On the similar time, events will stay important for expressing voters’ views whereas sustaining the election technique primarily based on celebration lists.
Concurrently, a whole majority voting system is being carried out in district and metropolis maslikhats. This system will promote larger engagement between deputies and the local people, enhance the standard of maslikhats, and radically alter the connection between the manager and regional representatives. One other important initiative was the strengthening of the celebration system.
Aida Haidar.
The logical subsequent step was to simplify the registration course of for political events, together with decreasing the registration threshold from 20,000 to five,000 members. That is executed with the expectation that the nation’s political life will turn into extra vibrant, contributing to establishing new events and remodeling current ones. The adoption of those reforms ought to have a good impression on the nation’s democratization processes, the strengthening of parliamentarism, and the existence of a multi-party system.
June Referendum on Amendments to the Structure of Kazakhstan
On account of the June referendum, 56 modifications have been introduced in 33 articles of the Kazakh Structure, modifying a 3rd of the doc. The amendments, supported by 77 % of residents, with a 68 % turnout, modified important facets of the nation’s important doc, together with enhancing the mechanism for safeguarding residents’ rights, increasing the position and stature of Parliament, strengthening native governments, the demonopolization of energy, and selling competitors.
It’s important to level out that on Nov. 5, President Tokayev signed a bundle of legal guidelines, together with 4 constitutional legal guidelines, which lay the political and authorized foundation for the brand new state mannequin of Kazakhstan. The established legal guidelines function the authorized basis for a “Truthful Kazakhstan”, the middle of which is robust human rights establishments and political competitors.
Presidential Elections in November
The elections have been held successfully and in a good surroundings. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received 81.31 % within the early presidential elections on Nov. 20. Residents voted for political and financial modifications, the introduced plan for establishing a Truthful Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s private qualities, and his intensive worldwide expertise. Each Kazakh and worldwide observers agree that the elections have been a hit.
The incumbent President was given a brand new mandate of public belief, important for implementing structural reforms in politics and the economic system.
This norm, by which the President is elected for a single seven-year time period with no proper to re-election, establishes a superb democratic custom by guaranteeing a daily turnover of prime administration, which contributes to the long-term stabilization of the political system and eliminates the dangers of monopolization of energy.
The systematic reset of all main establishments of energy is ongoing. It’s carried out in tandem with the political modernization course of, which entails systemic modifications within the state mannequin. Elections to the Senate will happen on Jan. 14 as a part of a phased reset, whereas elections to the Majilis and maslikhats will happen within the first half of 2023.
Kazakhstan is presently present process substantial inside political upheavals aimed toward establishing new guidelines of the sport in politics, the economic system, and different spheres. State establishments must endure qualitative transformation to hold out all deliberate reforms. This can enable us to give attention to duties comparable to boosting the economic system, enhancing residents’ welfare, and the standard of life.
Arman Toktushakov is skilled on the Institute of World Economic system and Politics (IWEP).
Aida Haidar is The Astana Occasions Information Editor.
