With the election of Tokayev the people of Kazakhstan choose the path of continuity in order to not jeopardize the many accomplishments achieved by the country in politics, diplomacy, economy and society
A. Pedro Roque Oliveira
Portuguese M.P. and President Emeritus of PAM - Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
June 9th 2020
The year of 2019 represented an historic milestone for Kazakhstan. In fact, for the first time in the country's political life a major transition of power was carried out.
On the presidential election, that took place in June 12th, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received a mandate of trust from the people and became the legitime head of state after a huge electoral recognition.
Consequently, the country had entered in a new historic stage, full of hopes and expectations and keeping the pace with the reforms towards the development and deepening the path to democracy at all levels.
Kazakhstan is still relatively unknown for most of the people in Portugal and in the western Europe. Despite the achievements, its history as an independent country is still too young. Nevertheless, it’s already a great nation, not only because of its size (even landlocked it’s the ninth biggest country in the world) but mostly by a virtuous combination of geography, natural wealth but also political vision and wisdom of the leadership.
In a certain way this election represents the end of an era. As president, Tokayev followed the founding father of the nation and the main responsible for the Kazakh success - Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Nazarbayev, aged 78 years, had resigned in March 2019 after 29 years in power, initially as first secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan and then, after the independence, fulfilling almost five terms as elected president of the country. He was the political builder of Kazakhstan as Head of State after the independence in 1991 following the implosion of the USSR.
Undoubtedly, Nazarbayev was the most skilled of all the post-soviet leaders and shaped the country’s fate with his strategic vision from a hazy, underdeveloped and over-exploited soviet republic towards a modern and developed country. Under his guidance Kazakhstan achieved great success in several areas by:
- Giving up all the strategic nuclear weapons, a heavy and toxic heritage from the URSS after its collapse;
- Attracting the first huge western oil and gas investments in the former soviet bloc and paving the way for a market economy and a huge economic and social development;
- Advocating a policy of ethnic tolerance even before the inception of Kazakhstan as an independent country - a wise policy if we analyze the ethnic composition of the nation;
- Pursuing good diplomatic relations with Russia, China and the West, a key issue in order to establish the balances needed to strive for stability and development;
- Following the path of the international recognition by becoming member of several International Organizations at regional and world level.
Kazakhstan is an important regional player due to its geopolitical position - a bridge between Europe and Asia; its economic power -acting as beacon of development and stability for the entire region, and even beyond - one should not forget that Kazakhstan has a very important role on the Syrian peace negotiations.
Accordingly, with the election of Tokayev the people of Kazakhstan choose the path of continuity in order to not jeopardize the many accomplishments achieved by the country in politics, diplomacy, economy and society.
But, if Tokayev took the oath with the same spirit of continuity, simultaneously, the relay baton received from Nazarbayev also represents an expectation of a wise mix between the experience of a seasoned politician and diplomat and the raise of a newer generation, more educated and keener to take the wheel of its country towards the future and more committed with the developing of the democratic values.
I believe that, despite some eventual political shortcomings, Kazakhstan, with its balance, geopolitical position, stability and development has a lot to teach to many countries in a spirit of harmony, peace and prosperity.
We must strive to encourage East and West not only to move towards each other but also to encourage them to find a new philosophy, a philosophy which will serve as a tool determining the future of Planet Earth - our common and only shelter.
Nursultan Nazarbayev