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Covenant Аманат Amanat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman | Erlan Qoşanov[a][1] |
| Executive Secretary | Daulet Karibek[2] |
| Founders | Nursultan Nazarbayev Sergey Tereshchenko |
| Founded | 12 February 1999 (26 years, 256 days) |
| Preceded by | People's Union of Kazakhstan Unity |
| Headquarters | Yesil district, st. D. Konaev, 12/1,Astana |
| Youth wing | Jastar Ruhy |
| Membership |  850,000 (2015est.)[3] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Big tent[9] |
| Colours | Aqua White |
| Mäjilis | 62 / 98 |
| Regional mäslihats | 399 / 489 |
| Municipal mäslihats | 2,286 / 2,757 |
| Website | |
| amanatpartiasy | |
Formerly: Otan (12 February 1999 – 22 December 2006) Nur Otan (22 December 2006 – 1 March 2022) | |
Amanat (/ˌɑːmɑːˈnɑːt/;Kazakh:Аманат,lit. 'Covenant';[10] officially stylized inall caps), previously known asNur Otan (/ˌnɜːroʊˈtɑːn/; Kazakh:Нұр Отан,romanized: Nūr Otan,lit. 'Radiant Fatherland'), is therulingpolitical party of Kazakhstan and the largest political association in the country, with around 800,000 members as of 2023.[11] The party holds a majority of seats in theMäjilis, the lower house ofParliament of Kazakhstan, maintaining its dominant influence in the nation's legislature.[12]
Originally founded in 1999 as theOtan (Kazakh:Отан,lit. 'Fatherland'), the party was formed through the merger of several pro-presidential groups, including thePeople's Union of Kazakhstan Unity, the Liberal Movement of Kazakhstan, and the For Kazakhstan — 2030 Movement. In 2006, the party was renamed Nur Otan, and in 2022, it adopted the current name Amanat.
Under the leadership ofNursultan Nazarbayev from its founding following the1999 presidential election until 2022, Amanat became the ruling party of Kazakhstan, consistently winning presidential and parliamentary elections with large supermajorities. The party was frequently accused ofelectoral fraud and systemically suppressing opposition, especially during elections where it held a monopoly in the Parliament. In2007, Nur Otan secured all contested seats in the Mäjilis, cementing its status as the country's dominant political force.[13] Allegations continued after2012, when other parties gained limited representation.[14]
After Nazarbayev’s withdrawal from active politics in 2022, Mäjilis chairmanErlan Qoşanov assumed the position of party leadership, becoming the first non-executive official to chair Amanat, following a brief tenure by PresidentKassym-Jomart Tokayev.[15] Despite this leadership transition, Amanat has remained aparty of power, continuing align towards Tokayev’s administration.[16] The party strongly supported Tokayev’s constitutional reforms in the2022 referendum that aimed at shifting to a more balancedpresident-parliamentary system, while also backing his successful independentcampaign bid during the2022 snap presidential election as part of thePeople’s Coalition.[17] Since2023, Amanat has maintained its majority control of the Mäjilis, playing a central role in the nation’s political and economic developments.[18]
Amanat has been described as abig tent party, generally leaningconservative, with a focus on stability, national unity, and economic development.[19][9] It promotes reforms in areas such ascivil service,economic diversification, and therule of law.[3] The party’s governance style has been described asauthoritarian, with critics noting restrictions on political freedoms and limited opposition.[20]
Amanat has a widespread presence across Kazakhstan’s administrative divisions and holds numerous local offices, maintaining legislative control through deputy groups in local assemblies (mäslihats) throughout the country.[21][3]
Amanat traces back to its origins in October 1998, when thePublic Headquarters in Support of the Candidate for President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nazarbayev N.A. during the1999 election was formed, then ran by former Prime MinisterSergey Tereshchenko. The party derived its name from the Arabic wordwatan (fatherland), which is spelled asotan in theKazakh language.[22] Shortly following PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev's re-election win, a decision was made at the headquarters' meeting on 19 January 1999 to convert the formerly campaign staff into the"Otan" Republican Political Party (Kazakh:«Отан» Республикалық саяси партиясы;Russian:Республиканская политическая партия «Отан»), which was subsequently registered on 12 February 1999.[22]
Its1st Founding Congress was held on 1 March 1999 inAlmaty, an event which was attended by about 400 delegates from all regions, cities and districts of the country. Amongst them were representatives of 17 nationalities, 104 entrepreneurs and businessmen, 67 public sector workers, 122 civil servants.[22] The party outlined a program largely supportive ofNursultan Nazarbayev, who was elected by the delegates as the Otan chairman.[23] However, Nazarbayev declined to take over the chairmanship on a constitutional basis, resulting in Tereshchenko taking the role as the acting chairman while Nazarbayev himself would serve as thede facto party leader.[24][25] Speaking at the congress, the Nazarbayev stated that:
"The country can relatively painlessly survive the modern world challenges, only strengthening the internal economy, internal political stability, only demonstrating civil consolidation and solidarity. And in this regard, I have special hopes for the political party being created today, which we decided to call the word 'Otan' (Fatherland). The main thing is that the party is created from below, at the initiative of those thousands of volunteers who supported my candidacy for the Presidency in all the settlements of our country."[22]
– PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev, speaking at the 1st Founding Congress, 1 March 1999
At the congress, several pro-presidential parties: thePeople's Union of Kazakhstan Unity,Liberal Movement of Kazakhstan,Democratic Party, andFor Kazakhstan-2030 were merged with Otan.[26]
On 23 April 1999, the party was re-registered in theMinistry of Justice.
The Otan for the first time participated in the1999 legislative elections, with 54 candidates fromsingle-member districts and 18 from theparty-list for theMäjilis.[27] The party won a minority of 23 out of 77 seats with 30.9% of the vote with a majority ofindependents andpolitical associates whom were affiliated with the party'sparliamentary group.[28] On 14 December 1999, the Bureau of the Mäjilis registered the Otan parliamentary group with 39 MP's, which included 13 Senators, 26 Mäjilis members. By the decree of the party's Bureau of the Political Council,Quanyşbek Böltaev was approved as the head of the faction, and Urazalinov Sh.A. as the deputy. In the run-up to previous elections, Otan usually received a majority of domestic media coverage. Before the 1999 legislative elections, for example, it was reported that Otan was the main focus in almost 60% of the coverage.[29]
On 20 April 2001, at the 3rd Ordinary Congress, Nazarbayev summarised the results of the party's work telling that "the party has gained good work experience and over the past years has shown that it lives up to its name and can work to strengthen statehood, to consolidate society, to protect the interests of citizens."[30]
At the 4th Extraordinary Congress held on 9 November 2002, the amendments and additions were made to the Otan's party charter, program for the development of small and medium-sized businesses for 2003–2005 was approved.[31][22] Nazarbayev proclaimed three main themes of the congress agenda of which were: problems of political modernization, improvement of the political system–issues of further development of the economy and, accordingly, the solution of social programs–issues of security of the individual, society, the state.[31] Nazarbayev proposed that the Otan should be acentrist party withsocial democratic platform to which he praised it as a "creative potential, advocating a state with a socially oriented market economy, with high social stability and a developed social infrastructure." From there, thePeople's Cooperative Party of Kazakhstan andRepublican Political Party of Labour merged with Otan.[31][22] By that time, the Otan had already 7,000 primary party organizations in all 206 district and city offices and 16 branches. 1,660 party members became members of regional, city and districtmäslihats(local assemblies).[30]
In 2003, 2,240 members of the Otan were elected to mäslihats (local assemblies) of all levels. Having an overwhelming majority in the representative bodies of power at all levels, the party gained its opportunity to influence the socio-economic policy of the state by region.
At the Otan's congress held on 15 June 2004,Nursultan Nazarbayev proclaimed that the "unity is the main condition for prosperity of our people and state." and with the Otan claiming that the party representatives made up only six percent of the total 1,755 candidates that were nominated for the2004 legislative elections.[32] In the2004 Kazakh legislative election, the party won 60.6% of the popular vote and 42 out of 77 seats with 35 being fromsingle-member districts, becoming a majority in theMäjilis.Zharmakhan Tuyakbay,Chairman of the Mazhilis and a party loyalist renounced his Otan membership and resigned from post as the Mazhilis Chairman after criticising the government of rigging the elections in favour of the party.[33][34] Tuyakbay eventually joined the opposition and would leadFor a Just Kazakhstanalliance by running against Nazarbayev in the2005 presidential election.
On 9 September 2005, the 8th Otan Extraordinary Congress was held with the participation of the party leader and head of stateNursultan Nazarbayev. For the first time, the delegates nominated Nazarbayev as a candidate for presidency. The party intended to unite all the constructive civic forces within the country on the platform of support for Nazarbayev and provide him with new opportunities to complete political reforms.[35] The Otan pledged to implement the initiatives set by Nazarbayev of which were reviving the rural villages, developing agricultural production, domestic industry, small and medium-sized businesses.[30]
The Otan merged withDariga Nazarbayeva'sAsar on 4 July 2006, increasing the party's seats by 4 to 46 out of 77.[36] After the merged party was formed, Nazarbayev remarked to his daughter "Tell your Asar members that... you are returning to your father."[37] Dariga, on 19 June 2006, said that all pro-presidential parties should combine to create a grouping "with which no other party will be able to compete in the next 50 years."[38]
In November 2006, it was announced that theCivic Party and theAgrarian Party would follow in Asar's path and also merge with Otan to increase the party's share of MP's from 46 to 57 seats out of 77. Nazarbayev said he expected other parties to merge with Otan. Nazarbayev said there should be fewer, stronger parties that "efficiently defend the interests of the population."[39] At the subsequent party congress on 22 December 2006, delegates voted to rename Otan into the"Nur Otan" People's Democratic Party (Kazakh:«Нұр Отан» Халықтық демократиялық партиясы;Russian:Народно-демократическая партия «Нур Отан»).
On 4 July 2007, at the 11th Nur Otan Extraordinary Congress, Nazarbayev declared himself as sole leader of the party.[40] This came after the dissolution of the3rd Mazhilis in June 2007 andamendments to the Constitution of Kazakhstan, which removed limit on president's activities with political parties during his term of office.[40] At the congress,Baqytjan Jumagulov became the First Deputy Chairman whileKairat Kelimbetov andSergey Gromov were elected as deputy chairmen[41] and theamendments to the Constitution which changed Kazakhstan's electoral system, the Nur Otan presented 127 persons in the party-list which were scheduled to be elected for the first time throughproportional representation. In theAugust 2007 legislative elections, the Nur Otan won 88.1% of the vote and all the contested seats, making it the highest share for the party in history while other parties were unable pass the 7%electoral threshold, thus leaving the Nur Otan to have a sole party representation in theParliament.[42] This made the party become a central factor in the political decision-making process within the government, being compared to theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union by the opposition.[43]
In 2008, the Nur Otan formed itsyouth wing namedJas Otan and that same year in February, the party signed a cooperation agreement with the Agency of Combating Economic and Corruption Crime to which according to First Deputy ChairmanAdilbek Zhaksybekov: "The public councils will influence through the media, through methods of public influence, so that cases brought for corruption offences are brought to an end."[44] Just one month later on 3 March 2008, the Nur Otan Republican Public Anti-Corruption Council was formed, which was an advisory body under the party aimed at fighting corruption.[45]
At the Nur Otan Anti-Corruption Forum held on 6 November 2008, Nazarbayev proposed the creation of the Committee of Party Control which would provide public support and help the Nur Otan fight the corruption. He also called for the party to cooperate with non-government organisations (NGOs) and that the Nur Otan should keep issues of corruption in the health and justice system on the stand.[46] That same day, changes took place within the party.Boran Raqymbekov was appointed as the chairman of the party's control committee, while new secretary posts were formed for the Nur Otan organisational and mass work withSergey Gromov andErlan Karin being appointed as the secretaries.[47]
On 15 May 2009, the 12th Nur Otan Extraordinary Congress was held, from there Nazarbayev presented a plan for the nation to recover from theGreat Recession and urged for the party members to develop Innovative development, raise the standard of living, and stability in society. He also called for adiversification within the economy, claiming that the agricultural sector would make great contributation to the cause. The congress also addressed the issues of improving the system of government, combating corruption and improving the efficiency of the party itself.[48][49]
In May 2010, a Higher Party School was formed under the party, which aimed at improving the party's political studies.[50]
At the 14th Extraordinary Congress held on 25 November 2011, the party unveiled its electoral platform called the "Kazakhstan 2017 Goals National Plan of Action". At the congress, Nazarbayev stated that "in the 21st century only strong states can develop successfully. As the political leadership party Nur Otan, it takes responsibility for the future of the country, the stability of society and the continuity of the political course in the coming decades."[51] After the 2007 elections, the Nur Otan received backlash amongst opposition and international organisations.[52][53] This eventually led to theParliament, which the Nur Otan controlled, to pass an amendment that would guarantee for the opposing party to have a mandate in theMazhilis whether it reaches the required 7%electoral threshold or not, with lawmakers from the Nur Otan itself who called for amulti-party system.[54][55] The Nur Otan at the2012 legislative election swept 80.9% of the vote, winning asupermajority of 83 out of 98 seats, although suffering its worst loss of 15 seats in comparison to2007.[56] Two parties: theAk Zhol Democratic Party andCommunist People's Party of Kazakhstan gained its presence in theParliament, although they were viewed as loyal to the government.[56]
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On 17–18 October 2013, at the 15th Nur Otan Extraordinary Congress inAstana of which was attended by 1,200 delegates representing all regional branches of the party and more than a 1,000 guests.[57] The Nur Otan presented its doctrine to which called for evolutionary development and to build a democratic, prosperous, competitive and socially oriented state where every motivated, law-abiding and hard-working citizen would benefit himself and society.[58] At the congress, a decision was made to adopt a new full name for the party as simply "Nur Otan", removing the "People's Democratic" wording in which First Deputy ChairmanBauyrjan Baibek argued that political parties do not put "ideological affiliation" in their name as basis for "international practice".[59]
At the Nur Otan Political Council meeting on 11 November 2014, Nazarbayev addressed the nation on theNurly Jol economic plan and an Anti-Corruption Program for 2015–2025 was adopted to which according to Baibek noted that the main indicator for the effectiveness of the program would be Kazakhstan's entry into the world's top 30 most developed economies.[60][61]
On 11 March 2015, at the 16th Ordinary Congress held at thePalace of Independence, around 1,200 delegates took part in which for the first time more than 20% of them were heads of primary party organizations.[62] At the congress, the participants discussed the issues in the results of works by the Political Council, Central Control, Audit Commission as well as the candidacy nomination for the2015 presidential election.[62] Nazarbayev for the last time became a presidential nominee for the Nur Otan and at the congress, put forward his proposed five institutional reforms in response to the economic challenges which were the formation of a modern, professional and autonomous state apparatus; ensuring the rule of law; industrialization and economic growth based on diversification; a nation of a common future; and a transparent and accountable state.[63] Nazarbayev insisted that his proposals would strengthen the country and its entry into the top 30 developed countries of the world.[63] In the presidential elections, Nazarbayev would go on to officially sweep 97.7% of the vote.[64]
Following the announcement of the2016 legislative elections, the 17th Nur Otan Extraordinary Congress took place on 29 January 2016 which Nazarbayev proclaimed it as a "historical moment", reflecting his 17-year chairmanship of the party where he claimed that it become a "basis for concrete achievements of our economy, state and society".[65] At the congress, a party list and the Kazakhstan-2021: Unity. Stability. Creation electoral programme were approved in which Nazarbayev outlined its key areas of anti-crisis stabilization; structural modernization of the economy; new standards of quality of life for Kazakh citizens; constitutional patriotism; regional stability, integration and security.[66] In the aftermath of2016 legislative elections, the Nur Otan won an extra seat and 82.2% of the vote, a margin slightly more than compared to2012 from which Nazarbayev called it "a great accomplishment of our democracy."[67] Nazarbayev's daughter,Dariga, became an MP from the party list which fueled speculations in regard to potential political succession.[67]
On 3 November 2017, an expanded meeting of the Political Council was held from where Nazarbayev noted the Nur Otan's role in the constitutional reforms, insisting that the party should "become not just a tribune for explaining the meaning of the reform, but also be its active guide at all levels".[68] During the meeting, the party discussed its results from activities for the first 10 months of 2017 and made changes to its composition in the Bureau of the Political Council.[68]National Security Committee chairmanKarim Massimov was removed from the council membership, which according to the Nur Otan secretary Qanybek Jūmaşev, was due to the party's charter where it forbids persons to work in the law enforcement system and have membership to the party simultaneously.[69] Massimov was replaced by Presidential Administration headAdilbek Zhaksybekov who was supported unanimously.[69]
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On 28 January 2022, at the21st Extraordinary Congress of Nur Otan, the party underwent a leadership transition as Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was unanimously elected chairman, succeeding Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had led the party since its founding in 1999.[70] The transition was endorsed by Nazarbayev and marked a shift in the party’s direction. Addressing the congress, Tokayev outlined key priorities aimed at revitalizing the party’s role in governance, including reinforcing national unity, enhancing ideological engagement, restructuring the party's faction presence in theMäjilis, tackling socio-economic challenges, strengthening public outreach, and intensifying anti-corruption efforts. He also signaled the possibility of stepping down as chairman later in the year, citing the importance of presidential impartiality in political affairs.[71][72]
Following this transition, several key changes took place within the party's political structure. On 1 February 2022,Nurlan Nigmatullin resigned from his position aschairman of the Mäjilis, a role he had held since 2016.[73] Additionally, on 25 February 2022,Dariga Nazarbayeva, the daughter of Nazarbayev, stepped down from her parliamentary mandate.[74][75]
At the 22nd Extraordinary Congress of Nur Otan, held on 1 March 2022, Tokayev supported a proposal byErlan Qoşanov to rename the party toAmanat. During the congress, Tokayev emphasized the need to decentralize party structures, enhance direct voter engagement, shift focus from populist rhetoric to addressing concrete social issues, and launch new citizen-driven policy initiatives to strengthen Kazakhstan’s political stability amid global uncertainties.[76][77][78] A significant outcome of the congress was the removal of Nurlan Nigmatullin from the Amanat Political Council, following his earlier resignation as chairman of the Mäjilis.[79][80]
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On 26 April 2022, at the 23rd Extraordinary Congress of Amanat, Tokayev formally resigned from his position as party chairman and withdrew from membership, reinforcing his commitment topresidential neutrality and emphasized that the president should not be affiliated with any political party, which he believed would promote fairness and ensure equal opportunities for all political forces.[81][82][83] Tokayev's resignation followed significant changes within the party, including the merger of theAdal party with Amanat.[84][85] In his speech at the congress, Tokayev expressed confidence that Amanat would remain pivotal in Kazakhstan's political life without his leadership, nominatingErlan Qoşanov, Chairman of the Mäjilis, as his successor due to his extensive experience and leadership capabilities, with the congress delegates unanimously approving his candidacy.[86][87]
After taking over as chairman of Amanat, Qoşanov highlighted the intensified political competition following Tokayev's departure from the party, stressing that the party's responsibility lies in addressing societal issues and resolving citizens' concerns to achieve electoral success.[88][89][90][91] He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to supporting President Tokayev’s reforms, focusing on political, economic, and social changes to improve citizens' lives and increase competition in various sectors. Qoşanov emphasized the need for clear roadmaps and regional targets to implement the election program, while ensuring Amanat's active role in building aNew Kazakhstan and combating bureaucracy for meaningful progress.[92][93]
The party operates based on principles like voluntariness, equality, self-government, legality, and transparency, with its mission and values outlined in the political platform.
Membership in Amanat is voluntary, open to Kazakh citizens aged 18 and over who meet the party's requirements, participate in its activities, and pay dues. Members cannot belong to other political parties, and admission is decided by local or higher party organizations based on written applications. Membership may be terminated for reasons such as voluntary withdrawal, legal issues, or actions harmful to the party's interests, with penalties ranging from warnings to expulsion. Members have the right to participate in party activities, voice opinions, and appeal decisions. They must adhere to the party's charter, actively support its goals, pay dues, and attend meetings.
As of 1 January 2018, the Amanat party reported to had 1,016,540 members, a significant growth from 164,041 in 2000.[94]
The party's membership demographics is predominantly female, with 63.8% women and 36.2% men. In terms of age, 17% of members are under 30, 26.7% are between 30-40, and 23.6% are aged 41-50. Older members, aged 51-60, make up 20.1%, and 12.6% are over 60. Ethnically, 77.3% of the members areKazakh, followed by 14.6%Russians, and smaller groups ofUkrainians (1.9%),Uzbeks (1.4%),Germans (0.8%),Tatars (0.8%), and others (3.2%). Regarding education, 52.7% holdhigher education, 25.1% are middle professionals, and 22.2% have middle-level education. Professionally, 29.5% work in education, science, and culture, 24% in industry and services, and 4.6% in state bodies. Other sectors include healthcare (7.9%), agriculture (1.5%), small and medium business (4.1%), and college students (2.4%). Additionally, 14.1% are pensioners, 1.3% are disabled, and 10.6% belong to other professions.[94]
Organizational structure adheres to territorial principles, encompassing regional, territorial branches, and primary party organizations established in compliance with Kazakhstan's legislation. While regional branches span regions and cities of republican significance, primary organizations are foundational units formed with a minimum of three members, potentially gaining branch rights with significant membership. These entities, although not legal entities themselves, operate under party regulations, adhering to charter directives, program documents, and higher party decisions, including making recommendations for key political nominations.
Amanat facilitates the formation offaction in theMäjilis of theParliament of Kazakhstan and as groups in local representative bodies (mäslihat) with their registration and operations governed by respective regulations. These associations elect their heads based on party recommendations and receive support from the party's structural units. They have distinct responsibilities, including participation in legislative processes, holding consultations on key government appointments, and can even initiate significant political actions such asmotion of no confidence.
When a party member serves as adeputy, they are mandated to be active members of their respective deputy factions or groups, uphold and implement party decisions, engage with constituents, report on their activities, and manage public receptions through the party.
Despite not being affiliated with anypolitical international, Amanat has signed and renewed numerous cooperation agreements with other political parties worldwide. In October 2011, one was signed inAstana between Amanat and theUkrainianParty of Regions,[95] and another in 2015 withUnited Russia.[citation needed]
| Party | Country | Date of established cooperation |
|---|---|---|
| United Russia |  Russia | 12 June 2004[96] |
| Chinese Communist Party |  China | 22 June 2009[97][98] |
| Justice and Development Party |  Turkey | 21 October 2009[99] |
| Party of Regions |  Ukraine | 24 November 2011[100] |
| People's Democratic Party |  Tajikistan | 22 April 2014[101] |
Jastar Ruhy is ayouth wing of the Amanat party, bringing together over 100,000 young people with a focus on hard work, knowledge, and civic engagement.[102] Originally known as Jas Otan from 2008 to 2022, the organization was renamed on 12 July 2022 following the previous rebranding of the Nur Otan party as Amanat.[103] It began as a volunteer movement and has since grown into one of the largest youth organizations in Kazakhstan. Over time, Jastar Ruhy has been involved in shaping youth policy and has participated in various social, environmental, patriotic, and cultural initiatives, as well as charitable projects. The organization seeks to engage young people across different regions, advocate for their rights and interests, and provide opportunities for public participation and discussion.[104]
The Jer Amanaty commission, established under the Amanat party on 22 June 2022, focuses on reclaiming unused and illegally allocated agricultural lands, returning them to state ownership, and ensuring fair redistribution.[105] The initiative, following the directive of PresidentKassym-Jomart Tokayev, aims to make these lands available to rural communities, particularly for grazing livestock.[106] As of 2024, over 10 million hectares of land were returned to the government, with a focus on addressing pasture shortages and preventing land degradation.[107] The commission uses the JerKarta geoservice to provide transparency and track the location and details of the reclaimed lands.[108][109]
The Amanat Party Academy of Political Management, originally established as the Nur Otan Higher Party School in 2010, was founded following a proposal by PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev to improve the professionalism of party members. Its primary goal was to enhance the qualifications of party managers through additional education programs.[110][111] The school initially opened regional branches inAktobe,Almaty, andSemey in 2010–2011 to expand political education.[112]
In 2013, the school was reorganized and renamed the Nur Otan Party School of Political Management, with updated objectives and methods.[113][114] Since 2016, the shift todistance learning formats led to the closure of regional branches, and the school began offering 3-level training programs targeting party members at central, regional, and territorial levels.[115]
On 18 May 2022, following a directive from PresidentKassym-Jomart Tokayev, the school was re-registered as the Amanat Party Academy of Political Management. The Academy began offering new training programs for various groups, including rural akims, women leaders, young politicians, and maslihat deputies.[116]
The Amanat Media Group, originally established as Nur Media on 25 November 2008 by the Amanat party, is one of Kazakhstan’s largest media companies. Initially founded in partnership with theSamruk-Kazyna fund, the company has grown to manage various media assets, including Astana TV, Aiqyn, Liter,Türkistan newspapers, and NS and ORDA FM radio stations. With a team of 400 journalists working nationwide, the group focuses on expanding its media presence while producing exclusive and relevant content.[117][118]
The Institute of Public Policy, established in June 2016, serves as an analytical center for the Amanat party. It conducts research on socio-political and economic trends, monitors public sentiment, and assesses the effectiveness of government agencies in implementing strategic initiatives. The E-Analytics system supports nationwide sociological research, enhancing data-driven decision-making. The institute also facilitates feedback between the state, the party, and the public, while providing expert analysis for party activities. Committed to openness, objectivity, and practicality, it aims to be a key source of analytical insights and innovative policy approaches for Amanat.[119]
The Congress serves as the supreme governing entity of the party; its legitimacy is established when all party branches are represented, with delegates elected primarily at regional branch conferences or, in certain situations, appointed by the chairman during political council meetings; during its sessions, decisions are made by a majority vote encompassing representatives from all party branches, and an extraordinary congress can be called upon the decision of the political council, the chairman, or upon the initiative of a significant majority of regional branches.
The party congress is mandated to convene at least once every four years, either by the party chairman or the political council. It possesses the authoritative mandate to address and resolve all matters concerning the party's operations, with its exclusive purview encompassing pivotal tasks such as the adoption and modification of the party's charter, program, and associated documents; the election and removal of the Party Chairman; the appointment and removal of members from the political council and central control and auditing commission; the endorsement of party members for key political positions and the adjustment of electoral lists; oversight through receiving reports from the political council and the central control and auditing commission on inter-congress activities; the establishment, structure, and dissolution protocols for party governing bodies; endorsement of audit regulations; decisions regarding party reorganization or dissolution; and setting the membership fee structures.
The Chairman of the Party holds the paramount leadership position, overseeing general management and presiding over the party congress, directing the political council and its bureau while proposing key nominations for presidential and parliamentary candidates; further responsibilities encompass appointing and dismissing party officials, coordinating with the party's parliamentary faction, ensuring the party's growth, discipline, and personnel policy, making decisions on organizational structures, representing the party domestically and internationally, issuing necessary powers of attorney, endorsing resolutions, and addressing activities outside the exclusive purview of the party congress, with additional rights including the initiation ofmotion of no confidence against the government and adherence to legal and party charter mandates.
Since the party's creation in 1999, the role of Executive Secretary has evolved, preceded historically by the positions of the first deputy chairman and acting chairman; currently, the chairman possesses the authority to delegate powers to the Executive Secretary, encompassing responsibilities such as managing party activities, coordinating parliamentary faction work, approving party regulations and budgets, awarding party accolades, overseeing personnel matters, chairing key meetings, making decisions aligned with the party charter, and other functions, ensuring seamless operational continuity and effective governance.
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth-death) | Took office | Left office | Term length | Election | Acting | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | .jpg) | Nursultan Nazarbayev (born 1940) | 1 March 1999 | 28 January 2022 | 22 years, 333 days | 1999 | Sergey Tereshchenko | 1 March 1999 | 21 October 2002 |
| Amangeldı Ermegiaev | 21 October 2002 | 12 March 2004 | |||||||
| Baqytjan Jumagulov | 18 April 2005 | 4 July 2007 | |||||||
| Deputy | Took office | Left office | |||||||
| Zharmakhan Tuyakbay | 12 March 2004 | 18 October 2004 | |||||||
| Aleksandr Pavlov | 12 March 2004 | 4 July 2006 | |||||||
| Amangeldı Ermegiaev | 12 March 2004 | 4 July 2007 | |||||||
| First Deputy | Took office | Left office | |||||||
| Baqytjan Jumagulov | 4 July 2007 | 23 January 2008 | |||||||
| Adilbek Jaqsybekov | 23 January 2008 | 13 October 2008 | |||||||
| Darhan Kaletaev | 13 October 2008 | 19 November 2009 | |||||||
| Nurlan Nigmatulin | 19 November 2009 | 24 September 2012 | |||||||
| Baqytjan Sagyntaev | 24 September 2012 | 16 January 2013 | |||||||
| Bauyrjan Baibek | 16 January 2013 | 8 August 2015 | |||||||
| Asqar Myrzahmetov | 8 August 2015 | 6 May 2016 | |||||||
| Muqtar Qul-Muhammed | 6 May 2016 | 1 February 2018 | |||||||
| Mäulen Äşimbaev | 1 February 2018 | 29 June 2019 | |||||||
| 2. | .jpg) | Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (born 1953) | 28 January 2022 | 26 April 2022 | 88 days | 2022 | Executive Secretary | Took office | Left office |
| Bauyrjan Baibek | 29 June 2019 | 2 February 2022 | |||||||
| Ashat Oralov | 2 February 2022 | 26 April 2022 | |||||||
| 3. | .jpg) | Erlan Qoşanov (born 1963) | 26 April 2022 | Present | 3 years, 183 days | 2022 | Executive Secretary | Took office | Left office |
| Ashat Oralov | 26 April 2022 | 4 January 2023 | |||||||
| Elnur Beisenbayev[120] | 4 January 2023 | Present |
The Political Council, serving as the supreme representative body, plays a pivotal role in guiding the party's strategic direction, encompassing tasks such as delineating activity directions in line with party congress decisions, overseeing party participation in election campaigns, sanctioning primary election rules, formulating and endorsing political statements, defining the party's stance on emerging societal issues, electing its Bureau members upon the chairman's proposal, orchestrating party congresses and intra-party discussions, and addressing other pertinent matters within its jurisdiction, while also possessing the discretion to delegate specific issues to its Bureau for further deliberation.
The Bureau of the Political Council serves as a central managerial entity responsible for overseeing party operations between congresses and Political Council meetings, ensuring the implementation of decisions made by higher party bodies, addressing significant socio-economic and political matters of the republic, managing deputy mandates distribution, evaluating reports from party branches and parliamentary factions, expressing the party's stance on public affairs, convening crucial meetings, proposing candidate nominations for legislative bodies, establishing and overseeing deputy factions, determining personnel strategies, approving candidate lists for local representatives, endorsing party documents and awards, addressing membership terminations and appeals, forming specialized commissions, and making pivotal decisions on the party's organizational structure, penalties, and participation in legal entities, while also possessing the authority to rescind decisions conflicting with higher party mandates.
Members
The Central Office serves as the coordinating hub for the party's structural subdivisions and branches, offering comprehensive support encompassing information, analysis, organizational logistics, and legal assistance while ensuring the implementation of directives from the chairman, executive secretary, and other party leadership; its operational guidelines and staffing decisions are set by the Executive Secretary, who also oversees employment matters in compliance with Kazakh labour and social security regulations.
The Amanat party positions itself as a "party of people" committed to the development of Kazakhstan as ademocratic,economically strong, andsecular state. It aims to build a competitive political system and foster robust civil society institutions. The party’s ideology is rooted in advocating for political and economic reforms that cater to national needs, such as supportingsmall and medium-sized businesses, enhancingpublic welfare, and promoting interethnic and interfaith harmony. Amanat also seeks to represent the interests of citizens at all levels of government, engaging in legislative activity that promotes sustainable, democratic change.[121]
Amanat party is often described as a "big tent party", encompassing a broad spectrum of political views under its umbrella. The party officially has acentrist ideology,[122] with a blend ofliberalism,social conservatism, and elements ofsocial democracy.[123] It supports significant emphasis onyouth empowerment, encouraging their integration into the social and economic spheres. Amanat also seeks to advanceanti-corruption initiatives, focusing on the promotion of public control over governmental activities and encouraging greatercivic participation. Ultimately, the party strives to strengthen the democratic values and institutional frameworks of Kazakhstan to improve thequality of life for its citizens.[121]
Amanat's core values are encapsulated in its 2013 doctrine that defines the party as "thedominant political force that consolidates society and ensures the implementation of the state course ofElbasy", which underscoresnational sovereignty,self-determination,stability, and the creation of a strongmiddle class. The party advocates for therule of law,equality,justice, andequal opportunity for all citizens. Furthermore, it is dedicated to preserving Kazakhstan'sfamily values andcultural identity, including the promotion of theKazakh language, while respecting the diverse ethnic groups that make up the country.[124]
In terms of economic and environmental policies, the party emphasizeseconomic diversification, the protection ofprivate property, and the adoption of energy-efficient technologies. It also focuses on ensuring that social assistance reaches vulnerable groups within society. On the international stage, Amanat follows a Multi-Vector Policy, seeking to balance Kazakhstan's interests across a broad range of international relationships, positioning the country as an active global participant.[124]
| Election | Party candidate | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Nursultan Nazarbayev | 6,147,517 | 91.15% | Elected Y |
| 2011 | 7,850,958 | 95.55% | ElectedY | |
| 2015 | 8,833,250 | 97.75% | ElectedY | |
| 2019 | Kassym-Jomart Tokayev | 6,504,024 | 70.76% | ElectedY |
| 2022 | EndorsedKassym-Jomart Tokayev | 6,456,392 | 81.31% | ElectedY |
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Nursultan Nazarbayev | 1,622,895 | 30.90% | 23 / 77 | New | 1st | Minority government |
| 2004 | 5,621,436 | 60.60% | 42 / 77 |  19 | 1st | Majority government | |
| 2007 | 5,247,720 | 88.40% | 98 / 107 | 46 | 1st | Supermajority government | |
| 2012 | 5,621,436 | 80.99% | 83 / 107 |  15 | 1st | Supermajority government | |
| 2016 | 6,183,757 | 82.20% | 84 / 107 | 1 | 1st | Supermajority government | |
| 2021 | 5,148,074 | 71.09% | 76 / 107 | 8 | 1st | Supermajority government | |
| 2023 | Erlan Qoşanov | 3,431,510 | 53.90% | 62 / 98 | 14 | 1st | Majority government |
| Election | Party candidate | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Nursultan Nazarbayev | 385 | 100.00% | ElectedY |
| 2022 | Kassym-Jomart Tokayev | 389 | 100.00% | ElectedY |
| 2022 | Erlan Qoşanov | — | — | Elected by acclamationY |
| Parliament |
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|---|---|
| Minor parties | |
| Unregistered parties and political movements | |
