On the results of nomination of candidates and accreditation of 

international observers

On February 9 this year, a meeting of the Central Election Commission was held under the chairmanship of Nurlan Abdirov. As part of the sixth meeting of the current election campaign, the following issues were considered:

1. On the results of nomination of candidates for members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

2. On accreditation of observers of foreign states and an international organisation for early elections of the Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The meeting was attended by chairpersons and members of territorial election commissions of the regions, Astana, Almaty and Shymkent (via videoconference), representatives of political parties, and the media.

Representatives of the Election Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) were also present. The meeting was broadcast live on Youtube.

Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission Konstantin Petrov made a report on the first issue.

He informed that the Central Election Commission admitted all 7 political parties that submitted party lists to the Central Election Commission, which included 283 candidates, to participate in the elections of the Mazhilis members to the Parliament, elected according to party lists.

Konstantin Petrov emphasised that in the context of the lists of political parties in the Mazhilis, the statistics are as follows: People’s Party of Kazakhstan – 52 candidates, Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan – 54 candidates, National Social Democratic Party – 19 candidates, Baytaq Kazakhstan Green Party – 18 candidates, Auyl People’s Democratic Patriotic Party – 25 candidates, Respubliсa Party – 25 candidates, AMANAT Party – 90 candidates.

In each party list, the number of representatives of three categories: women, youth, persons with disabilities – in total is at least 30 percent of the total number of persons included in it.

Currently, the CEC has sent requests to the authorised state bodies to establish the compliance of the persons included in the party list with the requirements of the Constitution and the Constitutional Act on Elections.

The issue of registration of each party list will be considered in detail at the meetings of the Central Election Commission as responses from state bodies are received.

He also informed that 609 candidates were nominated on 29 single-seat territorial constituencies for the election of the Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or an average of 21 people for one seat; 79 candidates were nominated by 7 political parties, 5 candidates were nominated by 4 public associations, 525 or 86.21% - by self-nomination.

In the current election campaign, 3,415 members are to be elected to 223 maslikhats in the republic, including 668 to the regional maslikhat, 617 to city maslikhats, and 2,130 to district ones.

In the context of parties, the statistics of lists in maslikhats are as follows: Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan – 200 candidates (20 regions), AMANAT Party – 699 candidates (20 regions), Auyl People’s Democratic Patriotic Party – 136 candidates (20 regions), Baytaq Kazakhstan Green Party – 93 candidates (19 regions, except Kostanay), National Social Democratic Party – no candidates presented (20 regions), People’s Party of Kazakhstan – 182 candidates (20 regions), Respubliсa Party – 161 candidates (20 regions).

In single-seat territorial constituencies, 1,720 candidates were nominated for the elections of members to regional maslikhat, and 10,124 candidates for the elections of members to the city and district maslikhats.

Konstantin Petrov stressed that all information about the results of the nomination is posted on the websites of the respective territorial election commissions, as well as summary information on the regions with links – on the Central Election Commission’s website.

Chairpersons of territorial election commissions also reported on the results of nomination of candidates for members to maslikhats in the regions, who informed in detail about the course of the current campaign, the results of the nomination of candidates for maslikhat members at all levels and the measures taken to conduct the election campaign.

Summing up the first question, Nurlan Abdirov noted that according to the information provided, all 7 registered political parties will participate in the political race for 69 seats of the Mazhilis of the Parliament. In 29 single-seat territorial constituencies for the election of Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 609 candidates were nominated, or an average 21 people for one seat.

The greatest competition of 63 people in two districts of Astana, the smallest – 8 people in the district of the Ulytau region.

“Among the candidates for maslikhat members of all levels, there are 119 party lists. There are 1471 candidates on these lists. According to the majoritarian system – 11,844 candidates. In total, 14,207 candidates are nominated for members of the Mazhilis and maslikhats,” Nurlan Abdirov concluded.

He also noted that at 18:00 on February 8, the nomination of candidates, which is one of the most important stages of the electoral process, was completed. This stage was marked by very high activity.

Turning to the second agenda item, Nurlan Abdirov noted that within the current election campaign, the procedure for accreditation of observers from foreign states and international organisations continues on the proposals of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also recalled that according to the Calendar Plan of the main events for the preparation and holding of early elections of the Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the accreditation procedure shall end on March 13 at 18.00.

Secretary of the Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman made a report on this issue.

In particular, he noted that since the opening of the Institution of International Observation on January 20, 2023, the Central Election Commission has accredited 25 observers from 1 foreign state and 2 international organisations.

As of February 9 this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted for accreditation 37 more observers from 2 foreign states and 1 international organisation.

2 candidates were submitted for accreditation from the People’s Republic of China, and 3 candidates from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Another 32 observers were submitted for accreditation by the ODIHR Election Observation Mission.

Following the meeting, a traditional briefing was held for media representatives, at which members of the Central Election Commission answered all questions of journalists.