Senate Held a Series of Meetings with OSCE, IPA CIS and CSTO PA, TurkPA Observers
March 17, 2023
Maulen Ashimbayev met with OSCE observers
The Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament Maulen Ashimbayev and a group of deputies met with representatives of the OSCE observer mission and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for the early elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Maulen Ashimbayev expressed his gratitude to the international observers for accepting their invitation and coming to Kazakhstan to monitor the electoral process. The Chairman of the Senate emphasized that in Kazakhstan all measures are being taken in order for the elections to be held in accordance with national legislation and international standards.
The Speaker also informed the participants of the meeting about the internal political changes and said that this allowed to make the electoral process even more effective. In particular, a new mixed system of elections to the Mazhilis was introduced - by party lists and single-member districts. In addition, a 30% quota for women and youth in party lists was introduced, the status of the parliamentary opposition was legalized, the registration procedure for political parties was simplified, and so on.
"Kazakhstan is interested in fair, open and competitive elections. This is crucial for the further development of Kazakhstan as a stable and democratic country. People are waiting for real changes, and it is necessary to justify these expectations. I would like to note the high level of activity and competition in the elections. This is a positive trend that demonstrates the growth of political activity in the country," said Maulen Ashimbayev.
During the meeting the Chairman of the Senate also thanked the observers from the OSCE and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for the observation mission of the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan. The high role of observers in monitoring of elections was noted.
The parliamentarians, on their part, noted the high level of preparation for the upcoming elections in the country. And they expressed hope for further strengthening of interparliamentary cooperation.
Let us note that the upcoming elections will be monitored by 793 observers from 12 international organizations and 41 countries.
In turn, Olga Perepechina met with observers of the IPA CIS and the CSTO PA.
Deputy Chairman of the Senate Olga Perepechina met with representatives of the observer missions of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.
During the meeting Olga Perepechina pointed out that this year our country started with important political events, namely elections to the Senate and early elections to Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan that are held in the context of major domestic policy changes in Kazakhstan.
"In general, given the ongoing large-scale constitutional reforms, the Senate has become a chamber that truly represents the interests of the country's regions. Thus, the upcoming elections to the Mazhilis complete a comprehensive reset of the entire political system of the country. Elections to the Mazhilis and Maslikhats are held under a new mixed system - party lists and single-member districts. This makes it possible to elect representatives of various social groups and political parties, thereby ensuring the representative function of Parliament", said the Senator.
In addition, Olga Perepechina also informed the participants about the work being done in the country to actively involve women, young people and people with disabilities in political processes. According to the quota, 30% of the total number of candidates for deputies to the maslikhat and the Mazhilis should be representatives of these categories of citizens. This will allow taking into account their views in decision-making aimed at addressing certain issues and will contribute to building an inclusive society.
In their turn, members of the mission of observers of IPA CIS and CSTO PA stated that Kazakhstan takes all necessary measures to provide elections in accordance with high democratic standards.
Also, the Senate held a meeting with the observers of the TurkPA mission.
Nurtore Zhusip, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Socio-Cultural Development and Science, met with observers of the Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries.
During the meeting attended by Senators Bibigul Zheksenbai, Ruslan Rustemov and Nurlan Bekenov it was noted that Kazakhstan, as a country that contributed to establishment and development of TurkPA, attaches great importance to interparliamentary cooperation within this organization.
International observers were comprehensively informed about the key aspects of the ongoing reforms initiated by the Head of State.
"Elections to the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats will be held under the new mixed system. 70% of deputies of Mazhilis will be elected under the proportional system and 30% under the majoritarian system. That is, parties compete for 69 seats and single-mandate candidates compete for 29 seats. This allows for the election of members of various social groups and political parties and ensures the representative function of parliament. It should be noted that the Mazhilis elections will take place against the backdrop of large-scale domestic political changes," said Nurtore Zhusip.
The Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries was represented by deputies of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Recep Şeker, Şenel Yediyıldız and Yüksel Özkan, Milli Majlis deputy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hikmet Mammadov, TurkPA General Secretary Mehmet Süreyya Er.
Meanwhile, the senators informed foreign observers about the progress of preparations for the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan.
Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, Defense and Security of the Senate Askar Shakirov spoke at a briefing for international observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe at the elections to the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In his speech the Senator underlined the importance of monitoring of elections by independent observers representing authoritative international organisations.
Participation of the representative mission of OSCE PA and ODIHR in this monitoring should be considered as a sign of support of democratic reforms in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
"In 2022, the presidential elections were held in Kazakhstan, which launched a process of consistent resetting of all major institutions of power. The forthcoming parliamentary elections are a continuation of this process. Our country is taking all necessary measures to conduct free and fair elections in line with high democratic standards, including the provisions of the Copenhagen Document and is ready for constructive cooperation with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on all aspects of the electoral process," the Senator noted.
The senator also met with representatives of the observation missions from the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Romania, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.
Source: Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament Maulen Ashimbayev and a group of deputies met with representatives of the OSCE observer mission and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for the early elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Maulen Ashimbayev expressed his gratitude to the international observers for accepting their invitation and coming to Kazakhstan to monitor the electoral process. The Chairman of the Senate emphasized that in Kazakhstan all measures are being taken in order for the elections to be held in accordance with national legislation and international standards.
The Speaker also informed the participants of the meeting about the internal political changes and said that this allowed to make the electoral process even more effective. In particular, a new mixed system of elections to the Mazhilis was introduced - by party lists and single-member districts. In addition, a 30% quota for women and youth in party lists was introduced, the status of the parliamentary opposition was legalized, the registration procedure for political parties was simplified, and so on.
"Kazakhstan is interested in fair, open and competitive elections. This is crucial for the further development of Kazakhstan as a stable and democratic country. People are waiting for real changes, and it is necessary to justify these expectations. I would like to note the high level of activity and competition in the elections. This is a positive trend that demonstrates the growth of political activity in the country," said Maulen Ashimbayev.
During the meeting the Chairman of the Senate also thanked the observers from the OSCE and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for the observation mission of the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan. The high role of observers in monitoring of elections was noted.
The parliamentarians, on their part, noted the high level of preparation for the upcoming elections in the country. And they expressed hope for further strengthening of interparliamentary cooperation.
Let us note that the upcoming elections will be monitored by 793 observers from 12 international organizations and 41 countries.
In turn, Olga Perepechina met with observers of the IPA CIS and the CSTO PA.
Deputy Chairman of the Senate Olga Perepechina met with representatives of the observer missions of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.
During the meeting Olga Perepechina pointed out that this year our country started with important political events, namely elections to the Senate and early elections to Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan that are held in the context of major domestic policy changes in Kazakhstan.
"In general, given the ongoing large-scale constitutional reforms, the Senate has become a chamber that truly represents the interests of the country's regions. Thus, the upcoming elections to the Mazhilis complete a comprehensive reset of the entire political system of the country. Elections to the Mazhilis and Maslikhats are held under a new mixed system - party lists and single-member districts. This makes it possible to elect representatives of various social groups and political parties, thereby ensuring the representative function of Parliament", said the Senator.
In addition, Olga Perepechina also informed the participants about the work being done in the country to actively involve women, young people and people with disabilities in political processes. According to the quota, 30% of the total number of candidates for deputies to the maslikhat and the Mazhilis should be representatives of these categories of citizens. This will allow taking into account their views in decision-making aimed at addressing certain issues and will contribute to building an inclusive society.
In their turn, members of the mission of observers of IPA CIS and CSTO PA stated that Kazakhstan takes all necessary measures to provide elections in accordance with high democratic standards.
Also, the Senate held a meeting with the observers of the TurkPA mission.
Nurtore Zhusip, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Socio-Cultural Development and Science, met with observers of the Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries.
During the meeting attended by Senators Bibigul Zheksenbai, Ruslan Rustemov and Nurlan Bekenov it was noted that Kazakhstan, as a country that contributed to establishment and development of TurkPA, attaches great importance to interparliamentary cooperation within this organization.
International observers were comprehensively informed about the key aspects of the ongoing reforms initiated by the Head of State.
"Elections to the Mazhilis of the Parliament and Maslikhats will be held under the new mixed system. 70% of deputies of Mazhilis will be elected under the proportional system and 30% under the majoritarian system. That is, parties compete for 69 seats and single-mandate candidates compete for 29 seats. This allows for the election of members of various social groups and political parties and ensures the representative function of parliament. It should be noted that the Mazhilis elections will take place against the backdrop of large-scale domestic political changes," said Nurtore Zhusip.
The Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries was represented by deputies of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Recep Şeker, Şenel Yediyıldız and Yüksel Özkan, Milli Majlis deputy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hikmet Mammadov, TurkPA General Secretary Mehmet Süreyya Er.
Meanwhile, the senators informed foreign observers about the progress of preparations for the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan.
Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, Defense and Security of the Senate Askar Shakirov spoke at a briefing for international observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe at the elections to the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In his speech the Senator underlined the importance of monitoring of elections by independent observers representing authoritative international organisations.
Participation of the representative mission of OSCE PA and ODIHR in this monitoring should be considered as a sign of support of democratic reforms in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
"In 2022, the presidential elections were held in Kazakhstan, which launched a process of consistent resetting of all major institutions of power. The forthcoming parliamentary elections are a continuation of this process. Our country is taking all necessary measures to conduct free and fair elections in line with high democratic standards, including the provisions of the Copenhagen Document and is ready for constructive cooperation with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on all aspects of the electoral process," the Senator noted.
The senator also met with representatives of the observation missions from the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Romania, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.
Source: Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan
