Fatherland (Kazakhstan)

Fatherland ( _kz. Отан. Otan) was the largest political party in Kazakhstan, led by Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov with over 700,000 members [http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/09/2-tca/tca-260906.asp Kazakh pro-presidential parties complete merger] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty] 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 established on February 12, 1999 after the merger of several previously independent pro-presidential parties, including the People's Union of Kazakhstan Unity, the Liberal Movement of Kazakhstan, and the "For Kazakhstan - 2030" Movement. At the uniting congress, the new party outlined a program largely supportive of the government led by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. [http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/election/kazakhstan/bbk101219.html Information on Political Parties Participating on the Basis of Party Slates in Elections to Majilis of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan] ]

At its last legislative elections under the Otan banner (19 September and 3 October 2004) the party won 60.6% of the popular vote and 42 out of 77 seats.

In the run-up to previous elections, Otan usually received a majority of domestic media coverage. Before the 1999 election, for example, it was reported that Otan was the main focus in almost 60% of the coverage. [http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav091604.shtml Media Bias Mars Kazakhstan's Election Campaign] EurasiaNet] Additionally, most of the country's major media outlets had political leanings towards Otan (including those networks such as Khabar, which were formally supportive of Asar).

References

External links

* [http://www.otan.kz/ Official Otan Party Page] (Russian)