Kazakhstan's Communists support idea of early presidential election

Vladislav Kosarev ©Turar Kazangapov

The leader of the parliamentary faction of the People's Communists at the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament, Vladislav Kosarev declared support of the political party to the idea of early presidential election, Tengrinews reports.

"We are all concerned about the escalating crisis in the global economy; all of this is a heavy burden resting on the shoulders of ordinary people. We cannot allow this to spread to our country, too (...). We believe that in the current conditions all of us must stop long discussions about the possible dates of the top election in our country. On the contrary, through the election we should direct all the forces of the state machine, legislative and representative government branches and the people to overcome the today's challenges," Kosarev said.

He continued by saying that the number of candidates at the early presidential election will be decided in the coming weeks. Kosarev said that the Communists would hold their party congress after the election is officially announced. "There has been only an proposal to hold the elections, no final decision has been made yet," he stressed.

The journalists asked if he would be a presidential candidate. "Time will tell," he replied.

The proposal to hold presidential election in Kazakhstan ahead of time - in 2015 instead of 2016 - first came from the People’s Assembly on 14 February. Later, the ruling party Nur Otan supported the initiative.

Reporting by Renat Tashkinbayev, writing by Dinara Urazova

The leader of the parliamentary faction of the People's Communists at the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament, Vladislav Kosarev declared support of the political party to the idea of early presidential election, Tengrinews reports.

"We are all concerned about the escalating crisis in the global economy; all of this is a heavy burden resting on the shoulders of ordinary people. We cannot allow this to spread to our country, too (...). We believe that in the current conditions all of us must stop long discussions about the possible dates of the top election in our country. On the contrary, through the election we should direct all the forces of the state machine, legislative and representative government branches and the people to overcome the today's challenges," Kosarev said.

He continued by saying that the number of candidates at the early presidential election will be decided in the coming weeks. Kosarev said that the Communists would hold their party congress after the election is officially announced. "There has been only an proposal to hold the elections, no final decision has been made yet," he stressed.

The journalists asked if he would be a presidential candidate. "Time will tell," he replied.

The proposal to hold presidential election in Kazakhstan ahead of time - in 2015 instead of 2016 - first came from the People’s Assembly on 14 February. Later, the ruling party Nur Otan supported the initiative.

Reporting by Renat Tashkinbayev, writing by Dinara Urazova

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