Zhana Kazakhstan – Zhana Parties: What "Political Forces" Appeared in 2022?

The outgoing year turned out to be rich with new political parties in Kazakhstan. The Orda Editorial board looked into the new associations and their ideological programs.

Recently, there has been noticeable progress in the established party sphere of Kazakhstan. In November, a new political association "Baitak" was registered in the country. Eight months after merging with the dominant AMANAT, the Adal party decided to discontinue their work.

RMB: Six parties are registered in the republic: "AMANAT", "Ak Zhol", People's Party of Kazakhstan, "Auyl", "National Social Democratic Party", as well as "Baitak".

Nine unofficial political associations appeared in 2022. You can find information about them below.

The "Green" Party (Baitak)

Baitak is the only one of the newly formed parties that managed to register on November 28. Its main task is to solve the environmental problems of the republic. The party members call the "green agenda" one of the most relevant, as both business and development programs of entire states are switching to the ESG strategy.

Leader: Ex-businessman Amirkhan Amirtayev.

Financing: Amirkhan Amirtayev.

Purpose: To protect the environment and the health of citizens.

Supports: The "green" economy, humanism, domestic agricultural producers, the construction of nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan and the tightening of technical inspection of cars in Almaty.

"Respublica"

Its chairman Aidarbek Khojanazarov calls it "The Party of Creators or meta-party". This association can also be called the party of bloggers-businessmen because the co-chairs are Beibit Alibekov, Kuanysh Shonbai, Ruslan Berdenov, Dinara Shukizhanova, Syrymbek Tau, Maxim Baryshev and Nurlan Koyanbayev.

The Minister of Justice Kanat Musin's recent mistake is connected with "Respublica". The minister stated that the party had been officially registered, although the department is still waiting for documents from its organizing committee.

Leader: CEO of the company "Olzha Agro" Aidarbek Khojanazarov.

Goal: To reset all spheres of the state and the life of Kazakhstanis.

Funding: Unknown.

Symbolism: Blue symbolizes stability, blue – prosperity, and white – purity and honesty.

Supports: Transparency at all levels of government structures, modernization of the economy, revision of the tax system, technology and innovation.

"Bizdin Tandau"

Bulat Abilov announced the creation of his party "Bizdin Tandau" at a press conference in Almaty on May 16. The initiative group also included Olzhas Mukhamedi, Bella Orynbetova, Rysbek Sarsenbayuly, Bakhyt Zhumakayeva, Iskander Beisembetov and a number of other famous people. The Party wants to adopt a new Constitution.

Leader: Politician and businessman Bulat Abilov.

Goal: The transformation of Kazakhstan from a super-presidential republic to a parliamentary one.

Funding: Unknown.

Supports: The liquidation of the Samruk-Kazyna Fund, Kazakhstan's withdrawal from the EAEU and the CSTO, the election of akims of all regions, as well as the return of assets illegally privatized in the 1990s.

"People's Congress of Kazakhstan"

The party "boom" in the republic forced even those who left it in the distant past to return to politics. On May 23, poet and public figure Olzhas Suleimenov announced the re-establishment of the People's Congress of Kazakhstan party ("Kazakhstan Halyk Congress"), solemnly signing a notification of registration to the parliament.

The association has already managed to put forward an initiative – The return of $100 billion illegally exported from the country and divide it among 19 million citizens. However, the party did not explain how to find this money.

Leader: Poet and public figure Olzhas Suleimenov.

Goal: To involve the whole society in the development of the state.

Funding: Unknown.

Supports: Securing the ownership of the land and subsoil of the country for the people, the exemption of SMEs from taxes for three years, the creation of jobs and the guarantee of wages for young people.

"Namys"

Entrepreneur Sanzhar Bokayev spoke about the creation of the digital party "Namys" in February. According to him, the driving force of the organization is modern and advanced youth. Just like Abilov and Suleimenov, Bokayev considers it necessary to return foreign assets.

The first Namys congress was held in Almaty this summer. A little less than a thousand people gathered. On November 3, the party submitted documents for re-registration, as the previously issued notification was cancelled due to "failure to complete the relevant work on time."

Leader: Entrepreneur and ex-official Sanzhar Bokayev.

Goal: The creation of a state of people.

Financing: Unknown, but when the party comes to power, it plans to abandon budget financing.

Supports: Reforms in the law enforcement system and in the Armed Forces, the creation of an independent anti-corruption service, the election of mayors of cities and high-quality medicine.

"Our Home is Kazakhstan"

This new civic movement made itself publicly known in April of this year, but it started working during the January events. Then the participants of the movement created an operational headquarters to organize volunteer groups and ensure the safety of medical facilities. Our House Kazakhstan consists of veterans of the Afghan war and local military conflicts, liquidators of the Chornobyl accident and other citizens.

On October 14, at the republican press conference, the civil movement decided to create a party of the same name: "Our House Kazakhstan".

Leader: Murat Abdushkurov, Chairman of the NGO "Coordinating Council of Veterans in Afghanistan".

Goal: To unite Kazakhstanis not by political, religious views or nationality, but by passport.

Funding: Unknown.

Supports: Amendments to the law "On Elections" to increase the participation of citizens in city maslikhats and Mazhilis under a single-mandate system from 30% to 50%, traditional family values, and intolerance to corruption.

"Zher Korgany"

Public figure Mukhtar Taizhan started creating a new political party on March 16. According to Taizhan, he independently formed the principles of the party's economic policy, inspired by the work of Leszek Balcerowicz, a well–known monetarist and the main initiator of Poland's transition from a planned economy to a market economy.

The mission of the association corresponds to its name – "Zher Korgany" ("Protection of the earth"). The party proposes an absolute ban on the sale of agricultural land to private ownership and a strict ban on the sale/lease of plots to foreigners.

Leader: Blogger and public figure Mukhtar Taizhan.

Goal: To reduce the share of state participation in the market. The party's website also lists ten goals related to the land issue.

Funding: Unknown.

Supports: The abolition of Samruk-Kazyna, the return of state aid by banks, the elimination of tax benefits, withdrawal from the EEA, the rejection of nuclear power plants and the ideology of "healthy nationalism".

"Alga, Kazakhstan!"

The Ministry of Justice did not register the opposition party "Alga, Kazakhstan!" six times. Its head, journalist Zhasaral Kuanyshalin, has been known as one of the leaders of the civil movement "Azat" since the '90s. He worked closely with the unregistered party "Alga!". This party was also not registered due to its connection with Mukhtar Ablyazov. Kuanyshalin publicly supported Ablyazov many times and demanded not to extradite him from France.

Now the oppositionist intends to return the Constitution of 1993 and transfer the main powers of the president to the parliament by promoting the party "Alga, Kazakhstan!".

Leader: Journalist Zhasaral Kuanyshalin.

Goal: To build a free and democratic state, the main value of which is respect for human rights.

Funding: Unknown.

Supports: Full justification and payment of compensation to the victims of the January events, elections of akims, deputies and judges at all levels, Kazakhstan's withdrawal from the EAEU and the CSTO, free public health and education, write-off of all consumer loans.

"Enbek"

The Union of Builders of Kazakhstan announced the creation of the party of labourers in April this year. The prospects for Enbek are impressive because the Union itself includes more than 1,200 companies (more than 500,000 people). Chairman Talgat Yergaliev said that builders' problems prompted the organization of his own party.

The new association is trying to achieve the transformation of the construction industry into an "effective locomotive of the economy." Yergaliyev has twice put forward his candidacy for the presidential election. He was not allowed to participate in the early presidential elections in November due to lack of experience in the state service.

Leader: Head of the "Union of Builders of Kazakhstan" Talgat Yergaliev.

Purpose: To provide citizens with housing.

Funding: Unknown.

Supports: Self-regulation of business, reform of the construction industry, housing for every citizen of Kazakhstan.

"Yntymaq"

Prior to the creation of the party, the party's initiative group worked as the coordinating council of Yntymaq. Its head, Meiram Kazhyken, presented the political organization with the same name in April 2022. The Party of Leaders, as it is positioned by the organizers, unites employers and trade unions, and is also open to everyone. The "culture of unity" stands out amongst the party's slogans. This involves the modernization of the country's culture for the sake of the unity of the people. How they plan to implement this is unclear.

Meiram Kazhyken ran for president in early elections this fall. His candidacy was put forward by the Republican Union of Trade Unions "Commonwealth of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan "Amanat" (not to be confused with the dominant party)

Leader: Meiram Kazhyken, Director of the Institute for Research of Modern Society.

Goal: To create a strong civil society.

Funding: Unknown.

Supports: Democratic principles, the development of local self-government, support for NGOs and SMEs, overcoming oligarchic structures in the economy.

Coalition of Democratic Forces

In September of this year, Rysbek Sarsenbayev, an oppositionist and brother of the murdered politician Altynbek Sarsenbayev, announced the creation of a Coalition of Democratic Forces. The new association includes many parties awaiting official registration.

During the snap presidential elections, either a disagreement or a misunderstanding arose between the oppositionists. The Coalition could not agree on who to nominate as the candidate for the main post of the country. Yermurat Bapi was reportedly meant to be put forward.

Original Author: Gulnara Egemberdieva

DISCLAIMER: This is a translation, the article has been slightly edited, but the content is the same. Refer to the original article for accuracy.