Nur-Otan

Infobox Political party
party_name = Nur-Otan
leader = Nursultan Nazarbayev
spokesperson =
foundation =
ideology =
headquarters =
international =
website = http://www.otan.kz

Nur-Otan (Kazakh: Нұр Отан - fatherland's ray of light) is the largest political party in Kazakhstan with over 762,000 members. [http://www.rferl.com/featuresarticle/2006/12/FF86BCEC-4D63-4861-8C8E-D0C317AC4017.html Kazakhstan: Ruling Party Gets Even Bigger] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty] Since 2007 it is headed by President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev [ [http://enews.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=2025 President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev is the head of the Nur Otan party] ] Nazarbayev's predecessor in the party was Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov.

The party's predecessor, Otan was originally established on February 12, 1999 after the merger of several 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 of 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 the last legislative elections under the Otan banner in 2004, the party won 60.6% of the popular vote and 42 out of 77 seats.

Otan merged with Dariga Nazarbayeva's Asar on 25 September, 2006, increasing the party's seats by 4 to 46 out of 77.

After the merged party was formed, Nazarbayev remarked to his daughter "Tell your Asar members that... you are returning to your father." [http://townhall.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ContentGuid=995b83f0-7158-4f2c-adec-b4522f0a5114 Parties of Kazakh Leader, Daughter Merge] Townhall] Under the new agreement Nazarbayeva will act as one of three deputies beneath her father. The other two deputies are currently Bakhtyjan Jumagulov and Alexander Pavlov. Nazarbayeva said on 19 June, 2006 that all pro-Presidential parties should combine to create a grouping "with which no other party will be able to compete in the next 50 years." [http://www.metimes.com/print.php?StoryID=20060711-084500-5583r Analysis: Kazakh premier takes over daughter's party] Middle East Times] In December 2006 it was announced that the Civic Party and the Agrarian Party would follow in Asar's path and also merge with Otan to increase Otan's share of MP's from 46 to 57 seats out of 77. Nazarbayev said he expected other parties to merge with Otan. Nazarbayev said there should be fewer, stronger parties that "efficiently defend the interests of the population." [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/9A77C7E5-6984-40EF-8DA1-686EC24E5BD8.html "Pro-Nazarbaev Party Merges With President's Power Base"] ] At the subsequent party congress on 22 December 2006, delegates voted to rename the party Nur-Otan.

These moves signal the first time in Kazakhstan's history that a ruling party, explicitly supportive of President Nazarbayev, has been formed. fact|date=June 2007

In the 18 August 2007 Assembly elections, the party won 88.05 % of the vote and all seats.

ee also

*Jas Otan

References

External links

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