The Kazakhstani Central Electoral Commission has registered independent candidate for president Abelgazi Kusainov today. Experts say that Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s main opponents are Turgun Syzdykov of the Communist Party and Abelgazi Kusainov, heading the trade unions of the republic. Political analysts Eduard Poletayev, Andrey Grozin, Yulia Yakusheva, Petr Svoik and Vladimir Lepekhin have expressed their opinions about the candidates in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.
Eduard Poletayev reminded that the communists had promoted Zhambyl Akhmetbekov at the previous presidential polls. The new candidate, he believes, has a more serious appearance but has not gained any public popularity yet.
Andrey Grozin said that Nazarbayev’s previous opponents - Syzdykov, Kusainov, senator Gani Kasymov or ecology activist Mels Yeleusizov - were a lot more well-known, recognizable in t mass media, and have appeared on talk shows more often. Grozin predicts that the candidates mentioned could hope for only tenths of a percent of votes.
Yulia Yakusheva predicts that Syzdykov would get about 1.5% of votes for being a member of the Communist Party. She reminded that Syzdykov had been the head of the regional trade union of bankers, workers and functionaries, being a banker himself. Yakusheva confirmed that he was not a well-known political figure in Kazakhstan.
Petr Svoik said that he was absolutely unfamiliar with Syzdykov’s persona, learning about him only throughout the current campaign.
Eduard Poletayev called Kusainov a much more popular politician, who was often seen giving interviews with the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan. The expert noted that Kusainov had played a great role in systemizing trade unions in the country. He added that the candidate had been the head of the Karaganda Oblast, a firm industrial region, where many politicians come from, including Nazarbayev himself. Poletayev pointed out that Kusainov was a skilled functionary who had experience in trade unions and labour collectives.
According to Grozin, Kusainov is more popular for writing about politics. The expert forecasts that Kusainov will get 1-1.5% or 2% of votes at best. He explained that the population regards the current elections as a referendum of faith in the incumbent president.
Yakusheva called Kusainov the second most well-known candidate after Nazarbayev. She reiterated that Kusainov was a functionary who had been the head of the Karaganda Oblast. But the candidate, in her opinion, lacks the necessary political strength and will most likely get few votes.
Svoik added that Kusainov had not distinguished himself in any way in past posts. The analyst confirmed that he was acquainted with the politician and did not view him as a competitor for Nazarbayev. Svoik predicts that the next candidate to appear would be a member of the national patriots.
Vladimir Lepekhin clarified that the Communist Party was more of a sparring partner than an actual opposition. Most supporters of the party, he said, were veterans. The expert expects Syzdykov and Kusainov to get some votes. The trade unions of Kusainov, according to Lepekhin, consist of the same supporters as the Communist Party, the old generation with recollections of what trade unions used to be in Soviet times. The expert considers that the real competition would be between Kusainov and Syzdykov themselves.
The Kazakhstani Central Electoral Commission has registered independent candidate for president Abelgazi Kusainov today. Experts say that Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s main opponents are Turgun Syzdykov of the Communist Party and abelgazi Kusainov heading the trade unions of the republic. Political analysts Eduard Poletayev, Andrey Grozin, Yulia Yakusheva, Petr Svoik and Vladimir Lepekhin have expressed their opinions about the candidates in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.Eduard Poletayev reminded that the communists had promoted Zhambyl Akhmetbekov at the previous presidential polls. The new candidate, he believes, has a more serious appearance but has not gained any public popularity yet.Andrey Grozin said that Nazarbayev’s previous opponents Syzdykov, Kusainov, senator Gani Kasymov or ecology activist Mels Yeleusizov were a lot more well-known, recognizable in mass media, appeared at talk shows more often. Grozin predicts that the said candidates could hope for only tenths of a percent of votes.Yulia Yakusheva predicts that Syzdykov would get about 1.5% of votes for being a member of the Communist Party. She reminded that Syzdykov had been the head of the regional trade union of bankers, workers and functionaries, being a banker himself. Yakusheva confirmed that he was not a well-known political figure in Kazakhstan.Petr Svoik said that he was absolutely unfamiliar with Syzdykov’s persona, learning about him only throughout the current campaign.Eduard Poletayev called Kusainov a much more popular politician who was often seen having interviews with the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan. The expert noted that Kusainov had played a great role in systemizing trade unions in the country. He added that the candidate had been the head of the Karaganda Oblast, a firm industrial region, where many politicians come from, including Nazarbayev himself. Poletayev pointed out that Kusainov was a skilled functionary who had experience in trade unions, labour collectives.According to Grozin, Kusainov is more popular for writing about politics. The expert presages that Kusainov will get 1-1.5% or 2% of votes at best. He explained that the population regards the current elections as a referendum of faith in the incumbent president.Yakusheva called Kusainov the second most well-known candidate after Nazarbayev. She reiterated that Kusainov was a functionary who had been the head of the Karaganda Oblast. But the candidate, in her opinion, lacks the needed political force and will most likely get few votes.Svoik added that Kusainov had not distinguished himself in any way on past posts. The analyst confirmed that he was acquainted with the politician and did not view him as a competitor of Nazarbayev. Svoik predicts that the next candidate to appear would be a member of national patriots.Vladimir Lepekhin clarified that the Communist Party was more of a sparring partner than actual opposition. Most supporters of the party, he said, were veterans. The expert expects Syzdykov and Kusainov to get some votes. The trade unions of Kusainov, according to Lepekhin, consist of the same supporters as the Communist Party, the old generation with recollection of what trade unions used to be in the Soviet times. The expert considers that the real competition would be between Kusainov and Syzdykov themselv
