Kazakhstan Parliament should have at least two parties: Nazarbayev

Parliamentary elections to be held in Kazakhstan in January have to help stop domination of one party in the country's political system, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports citing Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. “Changes made to the Constitution are showing that there should be at least two parties in Kazakhstan Parliament,” the President said. “Nur Otan party is dominating” right now. Early elections will be held “to execute this constitutional ruling on multi-party parliament elected via party lists,” Nazarbayev explained. Besides, the President noted that “we cannot get distracted for elections in 2012 and do what we have to do” in relation to the possible second wave of economic crisis. Also “new people have to be brought into the parliament” for further implementation of industrialization program in Kazakhstan. Early elections of Majilis (lower chamber) deputies elected via part lists have been scehduled for January 15, 2012. Nomination of Majilis members elected by Kazakhstan People's Assembly will be held on January 16, 2012. The forth Kazakhstan Majilis was made of 107 deputies, 98 of them were members of Nur Otan party that won in the elections on August 18, 2007. 9 deputies were delegated by Kazakhstan People's Assembly. 6 parties took part in the elections and only Nur Otan managed to overcome the 7 percent barrier and get its representatives into the parliament. There are 10 political parties currently registered in Kazakhstan. One third of them are opposition parites.