Nazarbayev: Facing tough challenges

The widely expected re-election in Kazakhstan of Nursultan Nazarbayev did not come as a surprise, merely confirming the continuity of Nazarbayev's leadership and the endorsement of his status as the 'father of the nation'. However, this new mandate differs largely from the previous of his long rule – political reforms are promised and widely expected as being a major aim. The idea of a 'liberal state' is in the air. Would it be a major achievement and an ultimate conclusion for the career of a politician who assumed his membership as a 'full member' of the Politburo of the USSR's Communist Party in 1990?

The life of Nazarbayev (74) has had many dramatic twists, however he has showed a remarkable capacity for ascending to the top positions, which has required an extraordinary capacity for change and adaptation. From his Communist past as chairman of the Supreme Soviet and a number-one apparatchik of Kazakh SSR, he has led the transformation of his country to a liberal economy model, aiming now to bring his people even further towards a constitutional reform to endorse the transfer of power from the president to the Majilis parliament.

This scenario is probable, as Nazarbayev offers his Kazakhstan a new rescue plan, overcoming new challenges and diversifying the economy to enter the world's most developed countries and break the Soviet heritage of dependency on natural resources. This part of the electoral campaign is crucial for the future of reforms and Kazakhstan, rich in oil, has until now showed an addictive dependency on raw material exports. The diversification of the economy is directly related to the modernization of the country, and aims to be an endeavour to be realized in partnership with the external players of the EU.

Nazarbayev understands the profound need for closer ties with the EU as the major force to realize the modernization that's taking place both in technology and political reforms – the October 2014 visit to Brussels confirmed his determination to launch the Enhanced Partnership, which was launched on 20 January 2015.

Initiated by the EU, a new level of co-operation aims at closer ties in trade and investment, services and social development, but also assistance in political reform that will ensure the success of all other undertakings. The European Parliament has stated on numerous occasions that the benefits of deeper co-operation is entirely dependent on political reform, to be fulfilled 'hand in hand' with economic integration.

According to the electoral programme, these wishes of MEPs coincide with the will of Nazarbayev, who promise constitutional reform, implying the re-distribution of power from president to parliament and the government 'according to Kazakhstan traditions'.

The underlying Kazakh national element in this process is an integral feature of the political process, willing to distance itself from the events in Ukraine or the Arab Spring, where the whirlwind of passion brought death, tragedy and devastation that will require much effort and time to heal.

The future of political reform also rests with the traditional Kazakh multi-cultural lifestyle – up to now, it has been the only country in the post-Soviet space to avoid the horrors of nationalism and ethnic cleansing. As a model of multi-culturalism himself, Nazarbayev as president speaks both Kazakh and Russian when addressing his electorate, underlining his respect for the biggest minority in the country, namely the Russians (around 25%).

Although the achievements of mutli-culturalism in Kazakhstan weaken the threats of terrorism and fundamentalism, external perils remain prevalent, with the growing powers of The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and the US withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.

In general, the situation in the Middle East and Central Asia remains difficult, with the Taliban, Hizb-ut-Tahrir and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan all contributing to support by the Kazakhstan electorate for secularism and tolerance.

However, the task of maintaining calm in Kazakhstan's steppe will remain increasingly difficult and will require the considerable efforts of the political class and civil society, which is in need of invigoration, as promised by President Nazarbayev. The next 100 days of president's leadership are highly anticipated, and not only in Kazakhstan, as the reform and democratization of the leading country in the region will have an enormous impact on the future development of citizens in Central Asia and beyond.

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