Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 12
By Elena Kosolapova – Trend:
A total number of 22 candidates have applied for participation in the early presidential election in Kazakhstan so far, Kazakh Central Election Commission said on March 12.
Two of the candidates were nominated by political parties – current Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev from Nur Otan party and Turgun Syzdykov from Communist party. The remaining 20 candidates are self-nominated. Two of the self-nominated candidates are women.
In order to participate in the presidential election, a candidate should collect signatures of at least one percent of the total number of voters equally representing at least two thirds of the regions, as well as the cities of Almaty and Astana.
The registration of the presidential candidates will start after the candidates submit all required documents to the CEC and will end on March 25. 2015.
Kazakhstan’s president, according to the country’s constitution, is elected by adult citizens on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage through secret voting.
The president is elected for a term of five years.
The president’s position may be held by a person who is Kazakh citizen by birth, no younger than 40, fluent in Kazakh language, and who has lived in Kazakhstan for the past 15 years.
The early presidential election was proposed by the Council of the People’s Assembly of Kazakhstan. Major political parties, including the ruling party Nur Otan, the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol and Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan supported the initiative.
Both houses of the national parliament - Senate and Majilis - requested President Nursultan Nazarbayev to call an early presidential election. The country’s Constitutional Council has not found legislative restrictions for setting the date of an early election by the president.
Kazakh President scheduled the early presidential election s for April 26.
Edited by S.I.
Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency
