Coalition of Democratic Forces (Kazakhstan)

Coalition of Democratic Forces
Демократиялық күштер коалициясы
Demokratialyq küşter koalitsiasy
AbbreviationDKK (Kazakh)
KDS (Russian)
FoundersBulat Abilov
Nūrjan Ältaev
Founded5 September 2022 (2022-09-05)
IdeologyAnti-authoritarianism
Liberal democracy
Civic nationalism
Anti-corruption
Member parties

The Coalition of Democratic Forces (Kazakh: Демократиялық күштер коалициясы, romanized: Demokratialyq küşter koalitsiasy, DKK; Russian: Коалиция демократических сил, romanized: Koaliciya demokraticheskikh sil, KDS) is a Kazakh opposition political alliance that was founded on 5 September 2022.[1][2]

The DKK opposed 2022 snap presidential elections and instead promised to organise protest rallies, but in parallel to preparing a single candidate for the presidential race in case the elections would not be postponed.[3]

History

Following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's 2022 State of the Nation Address where he announced his candidacy for the snap presidential elections and a constitutional amendment in extending the presidential term to seven years while making it non-renewable,[4][5] the Coalition of Democratic Forces (DKK) was subsequently formed in response and held its first conference on 5 September 2022 in Almaty. From there, the DKK expressed its opposition in holding of snap elections as well as proposed seven-year presidential term law and instead called for the postponement of the vote to the originally scheduled date in 2024. It was attended by many opposition politicians and civil activists: Rysbek SärsenbaI, Erlan Qaliev, Bulat Abilov, Nūrjan Ältaev, Mūqtar Taijan, Güjan Ergalieva and others.[6][7][8][9]

On 12 September, former Nationwide Social Democratic Party chairman Ermurat Bapi called rumours about his nomination as a presidential candidate from DKK. According to him, first they must achieve political reforms and changes in the electoral law, and then choose candidates for the elections.[10]

The DKK on 14 September attempted to hold a demonstration in Almaty against the holding of snap presidential elections but were barred from doing so by the Almaty City Administration.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ "Kazakh Opposition Organizing Against Snap Elections". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Кезектен тыс сайлау. Демократиялық күштер коалициясы үндеу жасады". qazaqtimes.com (in Kazakh (Kazakhstan)). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Қазақстанның демократиялық күштер коалициясы Президенттің кезектен тыс сайлауына қарсы" (in Kazakh). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Kazakhstan leader seeks snap presidential vote with 7-year term". www.aljazeera.com. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Kazakh leader to seek second term in snap election". Reuters. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Коалиция демократических сил Казахстана выступает против внеочередных выборов президента - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть". vlast.kz (in Russian). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Коалиция демократических сил Казахстана выступает против внеочередных президентских выборов". The Village Казахстан. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  8. ^ "В «Казахстане» в очередной раз сыграли в «Коалицию демократических сил»". QMonitor (in Russian). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Сайлау: Оппозиция коалициясы не дейді?". Abai.kz. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Ермурат Бапи назвал слухами информацию о выдвижении его кандидатом в президенты от оппозиции - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть". vlast.kz (in Russian). 12 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Акимат Алматы отказал Коалиции демократических сил в проведении митинга против выборов президента - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть". vlast.kz (in Russian). 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  12. ^ Радиосы, Азаттық (14 September 2022). "Әкімдік "Демократиялық күштер коалициясына" митинг өткізуге рұқсат бермеді". Азаттық радиосы (in Kazakh). Retrieved 14 September 2022.