On November 16, 2011, President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree to dissolve the Majilis (lower chamber) of the Parliament and to set an early election for January 15, 2012. The election had previously been scheduled for no later than August 2012.

Before signing the decree, President Nazarbayev held consultations with Prime Minister Karim Massimov, Senate Chairman Kairat Mami and Majilis Speaker Ural Mukhamedzhanov. He did so after 53 of the 107 members of the Majilis signed a petition requesting the dissolution of the chamber. Such consultations are prescribed in the country’s Constitution as a necessary prerequisite for any presidential decision to dissolve the lower chamber of Parliament. The Prime Minister and both speakers supported the request.

Speaking at the meeting, the President said the elections would be held according to Kazakh law and its Constitution.

First, according to recent constitutional amendments, the Majilis will be composed of at least two political parties. The election for Majilis is held according to party lists. Under the 2009 amendments to the Constitutional Law on Elections, if only one political party manages to clear the 7 percent threshold set for entrance into the Majilis, the runner-up party will also be allowed to have deputies in the chamber. As of now, the Majilis had deputies of only one political party, Nur Otan.

Second, the President explained that the uncertain state of the global economy makes an early election wise. Kazakhstan successfully overcame the economic crisis of 2008-2009, he said, but the global economy is still volatile.

“We have seen what is happening in Europe and the issues discussed at the recent G20 summit. One cannot say that the global economy has stabilized. Events in the European Union have direct impact on us. European states are not only important partners for Kazakhstan, but are also investors and markets for Kazakhstan’s commodities and goods. We should be prepared for all possible scenarios,” the President said.

Speaker Mukhamedzhanov agreed: “Time goes along, and the world is dynamically changing day by day. We should consider our actions to counter a possible second wave of the crisis so that we could concentrate on social and economic issues. This is why I believe we should agree with the arguments of the (53) MPs and support their appeal.”

Chairman Mami said he supported calling the elections earlier than August because multi-party reforms would be put in place sooner. “This will give a new impetus to the implementation of reforms in the country,” he said.

Prime Minister Massimov also agreed that the initiative should be supported. “I think it is an excellent opportunity to once again demonstrate the democratic development of our country” he said. According to a poll conducted earlier by the Parliamentarism Institute of the ruling Nur Otan Party, 67.2% of respondents supported the initiative to dissolve the Majilis while 12.1% opposed the idea. One out of five of those polled was undecided.

When asked why they supported the initiative, 42.5% of respondents believed that a new Majilis would be a good idea, 18.1% said that Kazakhstan should have a multi-party legislature sooner than August and 16% believed 2012 should be devoted to countering the economic crisis without being distracted by elections. The survey sample was drawn randomly and included 652 persons aged 18 years and up in ten cities of Kazakhstan.

Now that the lower chamber of Parliament has been dissolved, the upper chamber, the Senate, will assume its responsibilities for the interim period until a new Majilis is formed and inaugurated. In addition, on Jan. 16, nine of the 107 members of the Majilis will be elected by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, which represents all ethnic groups in the country.

Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission intends to spare no effort to ensure that the elections are held in a free and fair manner and correspond to highest international standards. International and national observers will monitor the electoral process. During the election campaign, election commissions will pay special attention to the observance of basic principles for organization, preparation and conduct of elections – openness and transparency. This will be facilitated by the active involvement of domestic and foreign observers who will monitor the elections”.

U.S. nationals are welcome to participate in monitoring the forthcoming presidential elections in Kazakhstan as members of short- or long-term observer missions of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) or as independent observers representing a U.S. institution including a government agency, NGO or think tank.

At the invitation of the Kazakh Government OSCE has announced its intention to send both long and short-term observers to Kazakhstan totalling approximately 400 multinationals.

To join the OSCE mission, one may apply at the Organization’s website at http://www.osce.org/odihr/85152.

To become an independent observer, one may fill out the application form and send it to the Embassy (dana@kazakhembus.com) for consideration.

Here are some key facts and important dates related to the elections:

• Election date – January 15, 2012

• Election date for the Kazakhstan People Assembly representing ethnic groups in Kazakhstan – January 16, 2012

• Nomination of candidates on party lists – November 16-December 15

• Registration of party lists – November 16-December 15

• The Communist Party of Kazakhstan cannot take part in the elections, as its activity has been suspended by a court decision. However, members of election commissions elected on the nomination of the CPK will continue its work.

• Under the Kazakh laws, a person can be elected a member of Majilis, if he/she is older than 25 years and is a citizen of Kazakhstan permanently residing in the country for the last 10 years. A person cannot be elected as a member of Majilis, if he/she is deemed legally incompetent by a court or he/she is in detention by court order.

• Along with the Majilis elections, planned elections to the maslikhats (local assembly bodies) will be held on January 15, 2012.

• Under the Kazakh laws, observers of foreign states and international organizations will be accredited by the Central Election Commission upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. The last date for accreditation of observers is January 10, 2012.

• Foreign media could also observe elections upon due media accreditation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.