Upon the oppositional leaders of Azat and NSDP political parties’ declarations the new structure numbers about 400 thousand members. But if their political protest actions are to be attended with the declared number of members as it was at the Kazakh Concert Hall, they could become a strong political power long time ago.
Azat political party (formerly presented by the brand of “Nagyz Ak Zhol”) has been entered into NSDP political party. The Chairman of the political party was Zharmakhan Tuyakbay. Enforced NSDP political party couldn’t take the 7% barrier at Mazhilis elections (the lower chamber of the parliament) and soon “The real Ak Zhol” deserted the civil democrats’ line and became independent.
Independent social research organizations found out that in the elections of 2007 united political opposition had really overcome the barrier and even with the huge margin, but it didn’t change the final result. Zharmakhan Tuyakbay has a kind of feature: he never protects his statements. He gained 6.5% on presidential elections in 2005 but couldn’t prove that he gain more votes of electors than 6.5%. His political activist was thrown to prison in Taraz. The activist of his party in Almaty has lost her teenage daughter – the politician only expressed his compassion. He couldn’t even argue against the statement of escaped convict Rakhat Aliev, former presidential son-in-law, that he was only residential in political opposition side from the very beginning.
After divorce with NSDP political party, Nagyz Ak Zhol changed its name on Azat. It didn’t avoid the scandal, because the rightson this brand was already belong to national-patriot political movement of the same name. However, as the result the new name, Azat, was assigned by the political party.
Under its new name, “Azat” strenuously started to develop the niche of Kazakh ground. Bulat Abilov, the leader of the political party, rapidly learned Kazakh language. However, he didn’t become a dedicated nationalist. While his surrounding and party’s ideologists discussed about “Kazakh nation”, “Kazakh mission”, “Kazakh way” etc., he couldn’t through the phrase of “Kazakhstani people” from his lexicon, make the accent first of all at the state-civil but not at the ethnicity.
New-old political party NSDP Azat is the conglomerate party. Social-democratic values are only declared by it, but in reality there is no one consolidated conception yet that everybody could follow. It is shown in several directions. When in fact Russian language became the operational language at the political party congress, some members loudly expressed dissatisfaction of non-use Kazakh language. When some delegates and guests addressed the congress exclusively on state language, most members didn’t listened to them, because essentially didn’t understand Kazakh.
Amirzhan Kosanov, secretary in general of the new party, stated that Nur Otan political party is a devil’s work, the next moment the delegate from South-Kazakh region came and started to state that there are many people in that political party of power who appeared there against their will, and it’s better to discuss with them rather than struggle. The members of the political party have no consolidated view on historical past. Some see only negative moments in Soviet period, others are admitting both negative as positive aspects of the period. Somebody recognizes Alash Orda government of 1917 in religious way, other reminding that Alash Orda members helped to establish secular state. Such different points of view can be listed more and more.
Zharmakhan Tuyakbay and Bulat Abilov have equivalent status over new union. One chairman of NSDP has been changed with two co-chairmen. All questions of their competence are decided in the base of consensus. It is quite similar to Italian Mafia, when they don’t do business in equality of voices.
Among personnel replacements it is noteworthy the absence of Tulegen Zhukeev among the authorities of renewed political party. Zhukeev was Secretary in General in Azat political party. According to the position he entrusted with the ideology department, strategic planning and party building. In NSDP the position Amirzhan Kosanov was elected, and Tulegen Zhukeev is not even at the political council of the party (it consists of 53 members elected by congress). It can be considered as unsatisfying work results because Zhukeev has nothing to present in party assets.
Amirzhan Kosanov isn’t up in the political clouds, he often visits regions and more adequately orientates in political background and situation. Another word that only few delegates are ready to get the battlefield position they are offered. Judging by delegates of the congress at the Kazakh Concert Hall, most of them prefer to grumble against a wows and passive resistance than go out to an unsanctioned action of protest. Those who keeps “silent” way of political behavior isn’t a force to be considered with and the power authorities had obviously demonstrated it long time ago.
The important gain of NSDP political party can be named Toktar Aubakirov appearing in the party. Toktar Aubakirov is the first Kazakh cosmonaut and USSR test pilot of the highest category. The applauds elicited to him can be compared only with salutation of Gulzhan Ergalieva, Chief editor of “Freedom of speech” newspaper.
Baltash Tursumbaev has also become into political council and presidium of the party. If we’re talking about what is noticeable and unconventional in Batash Tursumbaev’s personality, then we must say that his political capital based on backing the political meeting and famous “circus” congress of initial Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK) political party, which had been held 8 years ago. He publicly opposed the Land Code of 2003, which entered the right on private property of agricultural lands. It wasn’t hindrance to be in good relations with Imangaly Tasmagambetov, who was the Prime minister when the Land Code has come into an effect… then Tursumbaev went out of political opposition club and live stilly and imperceptibly though he appeared in mass media from time to time. This time the personality was not only attended the congress of old-new political party but pompously declared of his entrance into the political organization.
There are few faces of non-Kazakh in the political party. Among fourteen members of the presidium there were only Piotr Svoik and Nikolay Kremenish. First one is hanging for a long time in political opposition circles. Medal owner (the Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union #11574), Nikolay Kremenish, is in NSDP — Azat political union (and simply Azat earlier) just because of the sympathy to Bulat Abilov rather than share the political party program. Even professional political analyst could hardly explain what definitely do that people want, except the desire to get the power in Kazakhstan.
There’s badly also with women in NSDP – Azat union. Gulzhan Ergalieva and Marzhan Aspandiyarova (former vice-chairman of Azat political party), are in the presidium of the political union. Both of them were sitting at the second row of presidium line, giving the way to Bulat Abilov, Zharmakhan Tuyakbay, Amirzhan Kosanov, Baltash Tursumbaev, Toktar Aubakirov and Nikolay Kremenish. Actually there are few bright women in political circles of Kazakhstan so this organization is not an exception.
As for the other delegates of the congress we can say that among the prevailing amount of old and mean ages there were notably more young people than before. At that fact it is particularly young people who are inclined to struggle and vigorous political activity. The voice of youth is considered, it is seen from the Zhanbolat Mamay entering into presidium of party political council (21 members, elected by the members of political council). When the party has different members segments on readiness to serious and hard activity it is considered to be a plus. But in the case with NSDP – Azat political union, the party conglomerate, such situation is more strengthen its internal disunity.
In any case, Nur Otan, the political party of Power, now has the political rival which is hard to ignore. Social-democrats, Azat members themselves interpret the expert scepsis at their address as “black PR” and ready to prove in fact they have become not only more in number but in political strength presently. What is the party capable in real life, without shelling of propaganda and rhetoric will become clear in nearest times. Modern political and social-economical situation in the country are in both creates as the field for additional threats, as new corridors of possibilities.
BETTER.KZ
