The former president of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has decided to hand over the chair of Nur-Otan, the ruling party of the country party, to the current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Kazakh media reports say Aidos Ukibai, a spokesman for Nursultan Nazarbayev, announced ex-president’s decision to give up the leadership of Nur-Otan on Twitter on November 23.
"At the extended session of the Political Council, Nursultan Nazarbayev decided to give up his duties of the chairman of the Nur-Otan party, emphasizing that the party must be led by the country's president. The process of the transfer will be carried out according to the party's charter," Ukibai wrote on Twitter
Local experts consider that the move will strengthen the position of the incumbent Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. .
The 81-year-old Nursultan Nazarbayev continues to influence political decisions in Kazakhstan as the lifetime chairman of the powerful Security Council.
Nazarbayev had ruled Kazakhstan from before independence in 1991 until he suddenly announced he was stepping down in March 2019.
Nazarbayev continues to wield considerable influence and enjoys almost limitless powers as "Elbasy," or Leader of the Nation.
The honorary status of Elbasy (leader of the nation, leader of the people) was bestowed upon him by parliament in 2010..
The Nur Otan (Radiant Fatherland' or 'Light of the Fatherland) is the largest political party in Kazakhstan. It has been the ruling party of the country since 1999. Under leadership of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Nur Otan has constantly won Kazakhstan's presidential and national parliamentary elections.
Originally founded on February 12, 1999 as simply Otan (Fatherland) by former Prime Minister Sergey Tereshchenko, after the merger of several previously independent pro-presidential parties, including the People's Union of Kazakhstan Unity, the Liberal Movement of Kazakhstan, and the "For Kazakhstan — 2030" Movement. From there, the Otan eventually absorbed other parties such as the Democratic Party, People's Cooperative Party, Asar, the Civic and Agrarian parties to become the biggest, gaining status of the party of power.
