Kazakhstani legislative election, 2012
An early parliamentary election was held in Kazakhstan on 15 January 2012. According to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE ) election missed the fundamental principles of democratic elections.
Background
The election marked the first time that the second-placed party would win seats in parliament - regardless of whether it reaches the 7 -percent electoral threshold or not.
Due to the uprisings in Mangystau 2011, and the result of the state of emergency there, the election in Zhanaozen was not scheduled. However, this decision was revoked on 10 January 2012.
Parties
Seven parties competed in the election: Nur Otan, Ak Schol Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party Auyl, Democratic Party Adilet, National Socialist Party Azat ( OSDP ), Party of Patriots of Kazakhstan and the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan. The OSDP was the only party that stood in opposition to the long- time President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Results
- Nur Otan Template: Election chart / Maintenance / Name: 83
- Ak Schol Template: Election chart / Maintenance / Name: 8
- KVK Template: Election chart / Maintenance / Name: 7
Source: Kazinform
Reactions
The opposition spoke of widespread irregularities and massive electoral fraud. The OSCE and the U.S. Department of State does not recognize the election as democratic.
Miklos Haraszti, the head of the OSCE long -term election observation mission, criticized what he described as a tightly controlled " campaign environment" in which the electoral rights of citizens would be severely restricted. "There were hardly any public debate in the media, the mass media operate in an environment that is characterized by self-censorship, and in which there is no place for editorial independence in the broadcast media. " Haraszti said that the " results of the election, including the presence of two parties other than the State party, as a rigged election can be described. "
However, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization praised the elections.