Kazakhstan’s leader Nursultan Nazarbayev on Wednesday called an early presidential election for April 26, in a move expected to extend his 26-year rule by another five. Nicknamed “Papa” and allowed by law to serve as many terms as he wants, the veteran president is poised to win another term in office easily, although he said he had not yet decided whether to run. Nazarbayev’s re-election would end speculation about his possible successor, a question watched closely by investors. “In the interests of the people, taking into account their appeal to me and their united will … I made a decision and signed a decree to call an early presidential election on April 26, 2015,” television channels showed Nazarbayev saying.
Nazarbayev’s ruling Nur Otan party and parliament appealed to him last week to secure a new five-year term early, saying it would help the nation as it faces economic difficulties.
The idea was first aired on Feb. 14 by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a constitutional body led by Nazarbayev, and authorities described it as an “expression of the people’s will”.
Nazarbayev, a 74-year-old former steelworker, has ruled his steppe nation of 17 million with a strong hand since 1989, when he became the head of the Communist Party of the then-Soviet republic. He was re-elected by almost 96 percent of votes in 2011, and his current term ends only in late 2016.
Full Article: Veteran Kazakh leader calls snap presidential poll on April 26 | Reuters.
