Articles about early elections to the Majilis and maslikhats were published in 23 publications of such countries as Poland, Latvia, Serbia, Norway, Egypt, France, Austria, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pakistan, Iran, El.kz reports.
An article by the Norwegian edition of Norway News notes that the constitutional reform in Kazakhstan has facilitated the process of registering parties, reducing the registration threshold four times from 20,000 to 5,000 members. The minimum requirement for the number of regional party offices has also been reduced from 600 to 200. At the same time, two new parties have registered since the amendments came into force. A total of seven parties are currently registered.
The publication also notes that one of the electoral changes is the addition of the column "against all", the reduction of the threshold for parties to enter the Mazhilis from seven to five percent, the legislative establishment of a 30% quota for women, youth and people with special needs in the distribution of deputy mandates.
Meanwhile, the Polish newspaper Siewie.tv writes that the elections in Kazakhstan will give a powerful impetus to the further modernization of the political system. In the upcoming elections to the Mazhilis and maslikhats, constitutional amendments adopted on the basis of the results of a nationwide referendum on June 5, 2022 will be implemented.
In turn, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Croatia and concurrently to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Altai Abibullayev, gave an interview to the publication "Klix.ba" about the reforms and transformations carried out in Kazakhstan. In his interview, the ambassador noted that an active political campaign is beginning in the country.
"Our Kazakh voter has become more demanding, and the political monopoly has disappeared, unlike previous years," the ambassador said.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Austria Alibek Bakayev in his interview with the Austrian news agency "Society" stressed that 2023 will be another important year for Kazakhstan.
"In the run-up to the elections, new political parties are emerging, further strengthening political competition and pluralism. For the first time in 18 years, independent candidates can also run in single-member constituencies," he said.