Kazakhstani legislative election, 2007

A parliamentary election was held in Kazakhstan on 18 August 2007. 107 seats were at stake in the Majilis, an increase of 30, following recently passed constitutional amendments. Under the changes, 98 deputies were elected by party lists, an increase from just 10 in the last legislature. The remaining nine seats are reserved for the Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan. [ [http://eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav062007a.shtml KAZAKHSTAN’S POLITICAL PARTIES GEAR UP FOR EARLY ELECTIONS] , EurasiaNet, June 20, 2007.] The President's party, Nur-Otan, received about 88% of the vote and won all of the available seats. None of the six other parties contesting the election reached the 7% threshold to win seats.David L. Stern, [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/world/asia/20kazakh.html "Party of Kazakh President Sweeps Seats in Parliament"] , "The New York Times", 20 August 2007.] Maria Golovnina, [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2878772.ece "Kazakh poll gives all seats to Nazarbayev"] , Reuters ("The Independent", UK), 20 August 2007.] The election was described on state television as "a real step towards democracy", although the opposition Nationwide Social Democratic Party, which received almost 5% of the vote, denounced the election, and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe observers said the election showed some progress, but was also marred by problems, saying that "in over 40 percent of the polling stations visited, [vote counting] was described as bad or very bad", which was worse than in the last parliamentary and presidential elections. Bias in the state media was also considered a problem.

Results

Previous election

* The last elections were held on September 19, 2004.

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6221786.stm Kazakhstan set to hold early poll]
* [http://www.election.kz/portal/page?_pageid=153,511661&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Official results]