Nur Otan

The "Nur Otan" Democratic People's Party (Template:Lang-kz, “Nur-Otan” Xalıqtıq Demokratïyalıq Partïyası), called simply Nur Otan (Template:Lang-kz, "Radiant Fatherland"), is the ruling political party in Kazakhstan with over 762,000 members.<ref name=STATS>Kazakhstan: Ruling Party Gets Even Bigger RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref> Since 2007 it is headed by President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev<ref>President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev is the head of the Nur Otan party</ref> Nazarbayev's predecessor in the party was Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov. The party's First Deputy Chairman is Askar Myrzakhmetov.

History

File:Nur Otan Astana.JPG

Nur Otan Headquarters in Astana

The party's predecessor, Fatherland was originally established on February 12, 1999 after the merger of several pro-presidential parties, including the People's Union of Kazakhstan Unity, the Liberal Movement of Kazakhstan, and the "For Kazakhstan - 2030" Movement. At the "uniting" congress the new party outlined a program largely supportive of the government of Nazarbayev.<ref name=UNION>Information on Political Parties Participating on the Basis of Party Slates in Elections to Majilis of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan</ref>

At the last legislative elections under the Otan banner in 2004, the party won 60.6% of the popular vote and 42 out of 77 seats. Otan merged with Dariga Nazarbayeva's Asar on 25 September 2006, increasing the party's seats by 4 to 46 out of 77.<ref name=STATS/>

After the merged party was formed, Nazarbayev remarked to his daughter "Tell your Asar members that... you are returning to your father."<ref name=RETURN>Parties of Kazakh Leader, Daughter Merge Townhall</ref> Nazarbayeva said on 19 June 2006 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."<ref name=RETURNING>Analysis: Kazakh premier takes over daughter's party Middle East Times</ref>

In December 2006 it was announced that the Civic Party and the Agrarian Party would follow in Asar's path and also merge with Otan to increase Otan'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."<ref>"Pro-Nazarbaev Party Merges With President's Power Base"</ref> At the subsequent party congress on 22 December 2006, delegates voted to rename the party Nur Otan.

In the 18 August 2007 Assembly elections, the party won 88.05% of the vote and all seats.

In October 2011 a cooperation agreement was signed in Astana between Nur Otan and the Ukrainian Party of Regions,<ref>Regions Party to cooperate with ruling party in Kazakhstan, Kyiv Post (24 November 2011)</ref> and another in 2015 with United Russia.Template:Citation needed

Election results

President

Election year	Candidate	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	Result
2011	Nursultan Nazarbayev	7,850,958	95.55%	Elected
2015	Nursultan Nazarbayev	8,833,250	97.75%	Elected

Mazhilis

Election	Seats won	±	Total votes	Share of votes	Position	Party leader
2007	Template:Composition bar	Template:Increase98	5,247,720	88.40%	Majority gov't	Karim Massimov
2012	Template:Composition bar	Template:Decrease15	5,621,436	80.99%	Majority gov't	Karim Massimov
2016	Template:Composition bar	Template:Increase1	6,183,757	82.20%	Majority gov't	Nursultan Nazarbayev

See also

• Zhas Otan

External links

• Official Website (Kazakh, Russian, English)