Kazakhstan to tighten requirements for presidential candidates

Tengrinews.kz – The Mazhilis deputies have accepted a draft law for review that introduces amendments to the Constitutional Law on Elections.

According to deputy Snezhanna Imasheva, the main goal of the bill is to prohibit a single candidate from running for the Mazhilis in multiple electoral districts. It also introduces restrictions on simultaneous participation in elections for both maslikhat and Mazhilis single-mandate districts, and establishes an electoral fund for candidates running for akim (mayor/governor) positions.

In addition, stricter requirements will be applied to candidates for president, parliament, akim posts, and members of the Central Election Commission — they must not have a criminal record for serious offenses.

“The accompanying bill also aims to improve election procedures and introduce administrative liability for violations of election norms. The committee is ready to begin work — I ask for your support,” Imasheva stated during the Mazhilis plenary session.

The deputies supported the proposal, and now the Committee on Legislation and Judicial-Legal Reform, chaired by Imasheva, will prepare an official conclusion on the draft.