Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev reelected after landslide victory

[News_Editor]

Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev reelected after landslide victory

2011-04-04 21:18:48 GMT+7 (ICT)

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission on Monday confirmed that President Nursultan Nazarbayev was relected after a landslide victory in Sunday's polls.

According to the state-run Kazinform news agency, Nazarbayev (Nur Otan People's Democratic Party) received 95.5 percent of the votes as announced by the Central Election Commission's chairman, Kuandyk Turgankulov.

"My Presidential election victory is the victory of Kazakhstan. Once again Kazakhstan demonstrated its aspiration for unity to the world," said Nazarbayev after his victory was confirmed.

The other candidates registered very few votes: Zhambyl Akhmetbekov (Communist Party) gained 1.4 percent, Mels Yeleussizov (independent), 1.2 percent and Gani Kassymov (Party of Patriots), 1.9 percent. The polls had a turnout rate of 89.9 percent.

Despite the high turnout, the capital city Astana recorded the lowest numbers of voters with a 68.5 percent turnout. Kazakhstan has a population of 16.4 million and an electorate of more than 9 million. 9,725 polling stations were established for Sunday's presidential elections.

The international observers' delegation from Switzerland informed that the polls were held in a proper way and without irregularities. The Swiss Institute for Democracy and Communication monitored the elections to prevent controversies.

"I did not see any violations, everything was fair, perfect and flawless. There were no deviations from the Law. While talking with the voters we saw that many of them were aware of the election campaigns of all candidates," said Peter Staub, head of the Swiss delegation.

"If polls usually divide a nation into various party blocs, we have united. While the word sees bloodshed and ethnic conflict, we, all the ethnic groups and religions of Kazakhstan, are one," added the Nazarbayev.

Under a 2007 constitutional amendment there is no limit to the number reelections the Nazarbayev may win. The 70-year-old president has expressed his desire to remain as leader of his country as long as his health allows him.

Nazarbayev’s current term was due to run until 2012, but he called early polls after rejecting a parliamentary-backed proposal to scrap the next two elections. The President initially presented an amendment to extend his mandate for eight years.

However, the Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan declared the proposed referendum prolonging the president's term until 2020 unlawful and anti-constitutional, and even though Nazarbayev had the right to veto the decision, he refused to do so and announced presidential elections instead.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-04