ASTANA – Experts commented on the promotion of sports and show business stars to the Nur Otan party list for the upcoming election during a Jan. 29 Central Communications Service press conference.
“One of the important issues discussed during the 17th congress of the Nur Otan Party was the approval of the list of candidates for deputies of the Mazhilis. We have nominated 127 people. Other parties also hold their congresses and approve their lists and then the result will depend on how people vote,” said Eurasian National University Rector Yerlan Sydykov, answering the question why in difficult times young athletes and representatives of pop culture and show business are being nominated with competent lawyers and economists.
Nur Otan Party political bureau member and Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan council member Anatoly Bashmakov also responded to the query.
“Parliament is a special institution of the state. In the system of checks and balances, it plays a special role. The deputy is not just a lawmaker; he is also a public politician and he is a public person as well. And it is very important for Nur Otan party candidates to be represented not only by people of different ages and nationalities, but also of different professions and interests. I think that the fact that the list of members of Parliament from the Nur Otan party has people representing culture, spirituality, business, and politics will provide additional authority. It will help to win, including in legislative work,” he said.
National Academy of Sciences President Murat Zhurinov noted the promotion of young celebrities is necessary for the young state.
“Our Mazhilis always generates new laws in first reading. Many laws are being improved; we are a young state and the process of the legislative framework develops constantly. That is why there are a lot of young people on the list, including not only athletes and artists, but also production workers and other workers. The composition of the list is very good,” he said.
People’s Artist of Kazakhstan Aiman Mussakhajayeva also supported the candidacy of creative people and athletes.
“As the President said, the list has representatives of different professions who have achieved such heights in their lives. World champion Gennady Golovkin was sitting right next to me. All those people who have achieved the best results in their work can provide guidance for our society. Such people can form our society – participate in elections and express their active position. If they could self-realise, they are able to pull others up to their level,” she said.
The Nur Otan Party list for Mazhilis deputies includes many famous individuals. Among them there are athletes Golovkin, Ilya Ilyin and Serik Sapiyev; singers Zhanar Dugalova and Kairat Nurtas; actor Nurlan Alimzhanov, who played the role of Nursultan Nazarbayev in the epic about Kazakhstan’s first President; journalist and TV presenter Maya Bekbayeva and others. The Jan. 29 congress approved the list.
