Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol

Bright Path or Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Bright Path (Ak Zhol or Qazaqstan Demokratiyalyk Partiyasi Ak Zhol) is a political party in Kazakhstan.

Origin

A dissident group in the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan Movement founded Ak Zhol in March 2002. In November 2001 anti-Nazarbayev activists founded the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan. The radical stance of the movement was dissented by a group of moderate members who split from the movement in the spring of 2002 to form the new and rather moderate party which advocate a pro-reform, pro-business party line.
The party differs from Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan in that Ak Zhol leaders refrain from openly confronting Nursultan Nazarbayev. Ak Zhol was founded by Oraz Zhandosov, Bulat Abilov and Alikhan Baimenov. Later, the ex-information minister Altynbek Sarsenbaev joined the party.^[1]

Development

Ak Zhol received 12 % of the votes at the last legislative elections in September 2004. Alikhan Baimenov refused to accept the only seat the party received at the 77 member Majlis until October 2006 when he reversed his position and joined parliament as the only deputy of an opposition party.^[2] The party advocated democratization of the political system, particularly elections of governors (akims) at all levels of the administrative system.

Fragmentation

In the spring of 2005, Sarsenbaev, Abilov and Zhandosov split from the party to form a dissident faction named Naghyz Ak Zhol (True Bright Path). At the last presidential elections on 4 December 2005 Ak Zhol did not join the coalition of opposition forces For a Just Kazakhstan and nominated Alikhan Baimenov, the chair, as the party candidate. Baimenov won 1.61 % of the popular vote.^[3] One of the party leaders who later joined the Naghyz Ak Zhol party, Altynbek Sarsenbaev, was killed near Almaty in February 2006 soon after the presidential elections. In the 18 August 2007 Assembly elections, the party won 3.27 % of the popular vote and no seats. All seats were won by the ruling Nur-Otan party.

References

1. ^ Cengiz Surucu, 4 Aralık 2005 Kazakistan Başkanlık Seçimleri Üzerine Gözlemler, OAKA, vol: 1, No: 1, 2006, pp. 153-158.
2. ^ Joanna Lillis, Kazakhstan Experiences Political Shift, Eurasia Insight, October 17, 2006, http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav101706.shtml
3. ^ Kazakhstan Elections 2005, http://www.kazelection2005.org

External links

• Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan official Site