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== History ==
== History ==
Ak Zhol was founded in 2002 when a group of moderates split from the more radical [[Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan]] movement, founded in November 2001 by anti-[[Nazarbayev]] activists. The new more moderate party ran on a pro-reform, pro-business platform, and in contrast to the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, its leaders refrained from openly confronting Nursultan Nazarbayev. Aq Jol was founded by [[Oraz Jandosov]], [[Bulat Abilov]] and [[Alikhan Baimenov]]. Former Information Minister [[Altynbek Sarsenbaev]] later joined the party in 2003.<ref>Cengiz Surucu, 4 Aralık 2005 Kazakistan Başkanlık Seçimleri Üzerine Gözlemler, OAKA, vol: 1, No: 1, 2006, pp. 153-158.</ref>
Ak Zhol was founded in 2002 when a group of moderates split from the more radical [[Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan]] movement, founded in November 2001 by anti-[[Nazarbayev]] activists. The new more moderate party ran on a pro-reform, pro-business platform, and in contrast to the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, its leaders refrained from openly confronting Nursultan Nazarbayev. The party was instead intended to act as "constructive opposition" that was prepared to work with the government.<ref name="Carnegie">{{cite news |title=Background on Ak Zhol Party |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/04/05/background-on-ak-zhol-party-pub-47745 |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=Carnegie |date=5 April 2012}}</ref> Aq Jol was founded by [[Oraz Jandosov]], [[Bulat Abilov]] and [[Alikhan Baimenov]]. Former Information Minister [[Altynbek Sarsenbaev]] later joined the party in 2003.<ref>Cengiz Surucu, 4 Aralık 2005 Kazakistan Başkanlık Seçimleri Üzerine Gözlemler, OAKA, vol: 1, No: 1, 2006, pp. 153-158.</ref>

In the [[2004 Kazakh legislative election]], the party won 2 seats in the country's [[Mazhilis|parliament]].<ref name="Carnegie"/> However, the party questioned the integrity of the election, and party co-chairman Alikhan Baymenov refused to take up his seat to protest against the vote, leaving the party holding just one seat.<ref name="Carnegie"/>


Ak Zhol nominated [[Dania Espaeva|Dania]] Espaeva as its candidate for the [[2019 Kazakh presidential election|2019 presidential election]]. It was the first time ever a woman ran for President in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kazakhstan could see first female presidential candidate as Ak Zhol party nominates Daniya Yespayeva |url=https://astanatimes.com/2019/04/kazakhstan-could-see-first-female-presidential-candidate-as-ak-zhol-party-nominates-daniya-yespayeva/ |website=astanatimes.com}}</ref> Espayeva received 5.05 percent (465,714) of votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kassym-Jomart Tokayev elected Kazakhstan’s president with 70.96 percent of the vote |url=https://astanatimes.com/2019/06/kassym-jomart-tokayev-elected-kazakhstans-president-with-70-96-percent-of-the-vote/ |website=astanatimes.com}}</ref> Espaeva's participation in the election received praise from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly election observation mission as a good start for a higher women's representation in politics.<ref>{{cite web |title=OSCE expert hails practice of women's participation in Kazakhstan presidential election |url=https://www.inform.kz/en/osce-expert-hails-practice-of-women-s-participation-in-kazakhstan-presidential-election_a3536504 |website=kazinform}}</ref>
Ak Zhol nominated [[Dania Espaeva|Dania]] Espaeva as its candidate for the [[2019 Kazakh presidential election|2019 presidential election]]. It was the first time ever a woman ran for President in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kazakhstan could see first female presidential candidate as Ak Zhol party nominates Daniya Yespayeva |url=https://astanatimes.com/2019/04/kazakhstan-could-see-first-female-presidential-candidate-as-ak-zhol-party-nominates-daniya-yespayeva/ |website=astanatimes.com}}</ref> Espayeva received 5.05 percent (465,714) of votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kassym-Jomart Tokayev elected Kazakhstan’s president with 70.96 percent of the vote |url=https://astanatimes.com/2019/06/kassym-jomart-tokayev-elected-kazakhstans-president-with-70-96-percent-of-the-vote/ |website=astanatimes.com}}</ref> Espaeva's participation in the election received praise from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly election observation mission as a good start for a higher women's representation in politics.<ref>{{cite web |title=OSCE expert hails practice of women's participation in Kazakhstan presidential election |url=https://www.inform.kz/en/osce-expert-hails-practice-of-women-s-participation-in-kazakhstan-presidential-election_a3536504 |website=kazinform}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:50, 3 March 2021

Ak Zhol Democratic Party
Ақ жол Демократиялық Партиясы
Aq Jol Demokratııalyq Partııasy
ChairmanAzat Peruashev
Founded29 January 2002; 22 years ago (2002-01-29)
Registered3 April 2002
Split fromDemocratic Choice of Kazakhstan
HeadquartersNur-Sultan
IdeologyLiberalism
Political positionCentre-right
Seats in Mazhilis
12 / 107
Regional
councillors
39 / 515
Municipal
Assemblies
223 / 3,229
Website
akzhol.kz

The Ak Zhol Democratic Party (Kazakh: Ақ жол Демократиялық Партиясы, romanized: Aq Jol Demokratııalyq Partııasy), commonly referred to simply as Ak Zhol (Kazakh: Ақ жол, romanized: Aq Jol, lit. 'Bright Path'), is a liberal political party in Kazakhstan.

History

Ak Zhol was founded in 2002 when a group of moderates split from the more radical Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, founded in November 2001 by anti-Nazarbayev activists. The new more moderate party ran on a pro-reform, pro-business platform, and in contrast to the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, its leaders refrained from openly confronting Nursultan Nazarbayev. The party was instead intended to act as "constructive opposition" that was prepared to work with the government.[1] Aq Jol was founded by Oraz Jandosov, Bulat Abilov and Alikhan Baimenov. Former Information Minister Altynbek Sarsenbaev later joined the party in 2003.[2]

In the 2004 Kazakh legislative election, the party won 2 seats in the country's parliament.[1] However, the party questioned the integrity of the election, and party co-chairman Alikhan Baymenov refused to take up his seat to protest against the vote, leaving the party holding just one seat.[1]

Ak Zhol nominated Dania Espaeva as its candidate for the 2019 presidential election. It was the first time ever a woman ran for President in the country.[3] Espayeva received 5.05 percent (465,714) of votes.[4] Espaeva's participation in the election received praise from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly election observation mission as a good start for a higher women's representation in politics.[5]

Electoral performance

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.[6] 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.[7] 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. In the 2012 Majilis election, the party won 8 seats and thus becoming one of three parties represented in the legislature. The party won 7 seats in the 2016 Majilis elections.

Despite officially being in opposition, the party is considered as loyal to the regime and often votes with the government.

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Election Party candidate Votes % Result
2005 Alikhan Baimenov 108,730 1.61% Lost Red XN
2019 Dania Espaeva 465,714 5.05% Lost Red XN

Mazhilis elections

Election Party Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2004 Alikhan Baimenov 572,672 12.00%
1 / 77
 Increase 1 Increase 4th Opposition
2007 183,346 3.10%
0 / 98
 Decrease 1 Increase 3rd Extra-parliamentary
2012 Azat Peruashev 518,405 7.47%
8 / 98
 Increase 8 Increase 2nd Opposition
2016 540,406 7.18%
7 / 98
 Decrease 1 Steady 2nd Opposition
2021 792,828 10.95%
12 / 98
 Increase 5 Steady 2nd Opposition

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Background on Ak Zhol Party". Carnegie. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  2. ^ Cengiz Surucu, 4 Aralık 2005 Kazakistan Başkanlık Seçimleri Üzerine Gözlemler, OAKA, vol: 1, No: 1, 2006, pp. 153-158.
  3. ^ "Kazakhstan could see first female presidential candidate as Ak Zhol party nominates Daniya Yespayeva". astanatimes.com.
  4. ^ "Kassym-Jomart Tokayev elected Kazakhstan's president with 70.96 percent of the vote". astanatimes.com.
  5. ^ "OSCE expert hails practice of women's participation in Kazakhstan presidential election". kazinform.
  6. ^ Joanna Lillis, Kazakhstan Experiences Political Shift, Eurasia Insight, October 17, 2006, http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav101706.shtml Archived 2007-06-10 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Kazakhstan Elections 2005, http://www.kazelection2005.org Archived 2007-10-31 at the Wayback Machine
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