Kazakhstani presidential election, 1999
Encyclopedia
Presidential elections were held in Kazakhstan
on 10 January 1999. Incumbent
president Nursultan Nazarbayev
won the election with over 80% of the vote, and was sworn into office on 20 January 1999. Most observers
viewed the election as blatantly unfair, further confirming that Nazarbayev was not interested in promoting a democratic
system of government. Voter turnout was reported to be 87.0%.
the date was then set to be in December 2000. Parliamentary action in the fall of 1998, however, ultimately resulted in the election occurring in early 1999.
On 7 October 1998, nineteen amendments to the constitution
were passed by Parliament
and signed into law by President Nazarbayev. One amendment to article 94 reads:
Acting under this new amendment, the following day Parliament asked Nazarbayev to shorten his current term in office. The president agreed, after which the Majilis
set January 10, 1999 as the date for new elections.
The main opposition candidate, Akezhan Kazhegeldin
, was barred from running in the election, a move criticized by many observers. A recently passed law prohibited anyone convicted of a crime from running in the election. Kazhegeldin had recently been convicted of participating in an unsanctioned election rally, thereby becoming ineligible to seek office.
For the first time in a Kazakhstani election, ballots included an option to vote against all candidates. Nazarbayev's party, the Party of People's Unity of Kazakhstan, was reformed into the Otan Party
two months after the election.
(OSCE) expressed concern about the short preparation and campaigning period. OSCE pressed the Kazakhstani government to postpone the election so that all candidates could have adequate time to campaign, but to no avail. U.S. Vice President Al Gore
called Nazarbayev in November 1998 to express concerns about the upcoming election.
The lack of fair access to mass media also concerned many observers. According to OSCE, most major media outlets focused disproportionately on Nazarbayev.
Serikbolsyn Abdilin, the runner-up in the election, claimed widespread voter fraud and a failure to properly count ballots.
The U.S. Department of State commented that the undemocratic nature of the elections "cast a shadow on bilateral relations".
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
on 10 January 1999. Incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
president Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the nation received its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union...
won the election with over 80% of the vote, and was sworn into office on 20 January 1999. Most observers
Election monitoring
Election monitoring is the observation of an election by one or more independent parties, typically from another country or a non-governmental organization , primarily to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of national legislation and international standards. There are national...
viewed the election as blatantly unfair, further confirming that Nazarbayev was not interested in promoting a democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
system of government. Voter turnout was reported to be 87.0%.
Background
Kazakhstan's second presidential election was originally scheduled to occur in 1996. However, after a 1995 referendumKazakhstani presidential term referendum, 1995
A referendum on extending the presidential term of Nursultan Nazarbayev was held in Kazakhstan on 29 April 1995. Voters were asked "Do you agree to prolong the term of office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, publicly elected on 1 December 1991, until 1 December...
the date was then set to be in December 2000. Parliamentary action in the fall of 1998, however, ultimately resulted in the election occurring in early 1999.
On 7 October 1998, nineteen amendments to the constitution
Constitution of Kazakhstan
The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the highest law of Kazakhstan, as stated in Article 4. The Constitution was approved by referendum on 30 August 1995.-Preamble:...
were passed by Parliament
Parliament of Kazakhstan
The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the bicameral legislature of Kazakhstan, according to the 1995 Constitution of Kazakhstan. The lower house is the Majilis, with 77 seats, elected to four year terms, 67 in single seat constituencies and 10 by proportional representation...
and signed into law by President Nazarbayev. One amendment to article 94 reads:
Acting under this new amendment, the following day Parliament asked Nazarbayev to shorten his current term in office. The president agreed, after which the Majilis
Majilis
The Majilis is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Kazakhstan, known as the Parlamenti, in the Government of Kazakhstan. The upper house of Parliament is the Senate of Kazakhstan. There are 77 seats, 67 in single seat constituencies and 10 by proportional representation, in the Majilis...
set January 10, 1999 as the date for new elections.
The main opposition candidate, Akezhan Kazhegeldin
Akezhan Kazhegeldin
Akezhan Kazhegeldinov served as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan until he resigned in October 1997, ostensibly for health reasons, though many saw it as an act protesting authoritarianism in Kazakhstan. He now heads the Republic People's Party of Kazakhstan, but lives in the West in exile...
, was barred from running in the election, a move criticized by many observers. A recently passed law prohibited anyone convicted of a crime from running in the election. Kazhegeldin had recently been convicted of participating in an unsanctioned election rally, thereby becoming ineligible to seek office.
Results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the nation received its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union... |
Independent | 5,846,817 | 81 |
| Serikbolsyn Abdilin | Communist Party of Kazakhstan Communist Party of Kazakhstan The Communist Party of Kazakhstan is a political party in Kazakhstan. -Origin:The Communist Party of Kazakhstan was founded 1936 when Kazakhstan was granted a Union Republic status within the Soviet Union... |
857,386 | 11.9 |
| Gani Kasymov | Independent | 337,794 | 4.7 |
| Engels Gabbasov | Party of People's Unity of Kazakhstan | 55,708 | 0.8 |
| Against all | 123,703 | 1.2 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 107,562 | ||
| Total | 7,328,970 | 100 | |
| Source: Nohlen et al | |||
For the first time in a Kazakhstani election, ballots included an option to vote against all candidates. Nazarbayev's party, the Party of People's Unity of Kazakhstan, was reformed into the Otan Party
Fatherland (Kazakhstan)
Fatherland was the largest political party in Kazakhstan, led by Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov with over 700,000 members until December 22. At a subsequent party congress, delegates agreed to incorporate the Civic Party and the Agrarian Party and rename the party to Nur-Otan.Otan was originally...
two months after the election.
Criticism
Even before the election, groups such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
(OSCE) expressed concern about the short preparation and campaigning period. OSCE pressed the Kazakhstani government to postpone the election so that all candidates could have adequate time to campaign, but to no avail. U.S. Vice President Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
called Nazarbayev in November 1998 to express concerns about the upcoming election.
The lack of fair access to mass media also concerned many observers. According to OSCE, most major media outlets focused disproportionately on Nazarbayev.
Serikbolsyn Abdilin, the runner-up in the election, claimed widespread voter fraud and a failure to properly count ballots.
The U.S. Department of State commented that the undemocratic nature of the elections "cast a shadow on bilateral relations".