Askar DARIMBET
ALMATY, July 15
(THE GLOBE)
At the threshold of the Parliamentary elections political parties, including opposition parties are getting more active. However, will representatives of the opposition be able to influence the work of the Parliament, if the Kazakhstan political system is not changed? The principle of the Kazakhstan Institute of Social-Economic Researches and Forecast Sabit Zhusupov gave an exclusive interview to THE GLOBE.
It seems to me that the next Parliamentary elections will not make any principal changes. It is hardly possible that there will be a critical mass of deputies able to change the situation in the Mazhilis. Our political system is structured to weakly. The Parliament’s power is deliberately small. The block of the authorities is monolith-like, the signs of poly-subject and development of branches of power have just outlined.
The key point is the position of the authorities in respect to political parties. But our authorities are skilfull at the method of organising of the election process. It is obvious that, parties supporting the government will occupy most seats in the Parliament. I fear also that, possibly, the national card will be staked, as it was in several parliaments, where we saw that ethnic colour was one of the main features.
Nevertheless, in the future Parliament I would like to see some outstanding persons, patriots who are able to settle problems, which are overshadowed now. I think leaders of RPPK, “Azamat” party, probably representatives of LAD will be included in the composition of the Parliament. As the situation in the country is not improving, and will hardly improve soon, the population will appeal to leaders aimed to serious deeds, first of all in the our political system, where the main role now is not plaid by the process, but by attributes. The most unpleasant thing is that the society is getting more and more dispersal. If this process continues, it will be impossible to talk about true social processes.
At present an especial model of construction of the political system which is characteristic for Kazakhstan is being postulated. However, there are some doubts. While considering different aspects of life we may easily see that if the economy and social sphere are in the market conditions, the political system is in different flatness.
Concessions of the authorities regarding the election legislation are the results of the influence of the international community. As we live in the one-pole world, this influence will be continued in respect to the developing countries, such as China and Iran. However, any progress is significantly positive.
To my mind, political passions in the republic are mainly far-fetched. The hullabaloo situation around the Parliament may be profitable to some definite circles, as apart from this there are serious problems. If these problems are not settled, the situation will be deplorable. These problems (criminalisation, marginalisation of the society, etc.) prove the forming of peculiar mentality, the sequences of which will be overcome for centuries.
Kazakhstan needs institutional reforms, against this background namely the proper mentality will be formed. True patriotism and high political culture are possible only on the basis of a dialogue between the authorities and the population, which will understand what is going on.
Unfortunately, in Kazakhstan at present there is no ideology, but only a number of different ideological means and devices. That sepsis regarding this word which was observed in the post-soviet space in the beginning of 1990-s as not correct, as the activity of any party is first of all its ideology. When there is no worthy ideology, its place is occupied by ideology of another suitable type.
Beibars BATYRKHANOV
ALMATY, July 15
(THE GLOBE)
“At the election the republican party will nominate 22 candidates in one-mandate districts and about 15 candidates by parties’ lists. We expect to receive 10 sits,” the chairman of the executive committee of the Republican People’s Party of Kazakhstan (RPPK) announced to THE GLOBE.
According to Gaziz Kamashev, after RPPK is registered in one more region, it is planned to receive a permanent registration certificate, which will allow the party to take part in the election by parties’ lists.
“By this moment, 8 subsidiaries of the party have been registered, though it was difficult to register them. There were some cases, when during party’s conferences some people came to members of RPPK, threatened them, and made them take applications back. This happened in Kustanai, Kyzyl-Orda, and Eastern Kazakhstan. In some regions we were rejected two-three times, and our registration was delayed due to different reasons,” the chairman stated.
Gaziz Kamashev emphasised that despite the composition of the local election commissions are appointed by akims along with the Central Election Commission (CEC), actually only akims will appoint people, as representatives of CEC do not know local people.
“In our country results of the election depend on a person who calculates votes. That is why we think one of the important aspects of the honest election to be the presence of representatives of parties and movements while calculating the votes,” Mr. Kamashev stated.
The chairman of the executive committee announced that at that time the agreement on the pre-election block of the opposition had been signed. On the basis of this agreement they have prepared the appeal, and now they are preparing the political, social and economic program.
“We will be able to do nothing without the block. For example, we will not be able to guarantee a sufficient number of observers at 10000 election districts, as not less than 3 observers (including 2 observers on duty and one to watch the portable ballot-boxes) are to be present in each district,” the chairman added.
According to Gaziz Kamashev, apart from parties and movements, a number of trade unions are ready to join the block created by the opposition.
“We and other opposition parties, will divide votes of people who are suffering today. It is first of all intelligentsia, pensioners, and small businessmen. We believe that people, whom we will nominate as candidates, will stir up the work of the Parliament,” Mr. Kamashev emphasised.
All Over the Globe is published by IPA House.
© 1998 IPA House. All Rights Reserved.