Kazakh 'Democrats' Want to Join EU

Akol (Bright Path), a democratic party in Kazakhstan, has proposed that the nation submit an application to the European Union. The news was released during its 21st congress.

The organisation, which was founded in 2002, plans to run again in the 2018 legislative elections. "Put Kazakhstan on the path of European development, European approaches to relationships between society and the state, and European norms of quality of life," says leader Azat Peruaev.

Peruaev quotes Alikhan Bokejkhan, who founded the Ala freedom movement in 1917 and brought together the intelligentsia of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to create a liberal state after Russian tsarist control, which was later destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1920.

We "see our future in relation to the best achievements of the Western states," he said. Kazakhstan's democratic leaders point to parliamentary democracy, free elections that included electronic voting, an impartial and independent judiciary, and other accomplishments as examples.

Akol decided to run for office on March 19 of next year, and during the congress, 54 people were chosen to be on the lists. In addition to former Mailis (Parliament) members like Peruaev himself, Dania Espaeva, Berik Djusembinov, Erlan Barlybaev, Kazybek Isa, Maksat Ramankulov, and Serik Erubaev, they also include business people from various parts of the nation.

The party, which has a sizable membership of over 200,000 across Kazakhstan, has been choosing its MPs since 2012 after making early attempts in 2004.

After the ruling Nur Otan party founded by former President Nazarbaev and the Kazakhstan People's Party, it received 12 seats in the most recent election in 2021, making it the third-largest party.

Members of the ruling Akol party are now sure that they are particularly successful in interpreting President Tokaev's own catchphrase, "The liberalisation of social structures," starting precisely with voting systems.

Additionally, the opposition contends that only groups loyal to the current regime are permitted to participate in political debate by the authorities in charge.