KZBlog

“Revolution from above” may be the buzzword of the 2012 Parliamentary campaign, unless they are held early. Yermukhamet Yertysbayev has been talking about having a second party in Parliament for bit now. It appears that the plan is to split NurOtan into two parties with one part representing politicians and the government and one part representing businessmen.

The “opposition” party will basically be the Atameken Union, headed by Timur Kulibayev, son-in-law of the President and deputy head of Samruk-Kazyna (unless the new head replaces him), as well as chairman of KazMunaiGas, Kazatomprom and Kazakhstan Temir Zholi. Several government officials sit on its Presidium. Atameken Union is currently a business organization, not a political party. It is also not to be confused with the opposition Atameken Party whose site has apparently been hacked as I just discovered.

In an interview with Megapolis Yertysbayev stated that all is normal in Kazakhstan because the Parliament is loyal to the President, and it could not be any other way.

As for forming a new party, it was an idea that occurred to him spontaneously after the weak showing of the opposition in the recent presidential elections. He states that it will help in the fight against corruption:

…We have a huge problem: power and business in Kazakhstan are closely intertwined, and this is the basis of corruption, and many other negative phenomena. And we could divide power and business. It is very important! As soon as we divide the government and business, everything will fall into place: there will be more order and corruption will be much decreased. That is, everyone will want to follow the rules, follow the laws. It is very important. I would call it a “revolution from above”.