the constitutional council in kazakhstan held that the bid to cancel the next two presidential elections and extend president nazarbayev's term to 2020 is unconstitutional, and nazarbayev immediately announced that he won't appeal the decision. he did, however, float the idea of having an earlier presidential vote.
which makes me wonder what was the point of this entire circus. there is no way that any proposal to change the constitution would have gotten this far in kaz without the president's approval. (the referendum to extend the presidential term was passed unanimously in the parliament, those nur otan toadies won't do anything that major unless they're sure it's what prez naz wants). in the past, parliament has passed bills that would expand presidential powers only to have them vetoed; an elaborate sham to burnish nazarbayev's democratic credentials. this time, the parliament overrode the president's veto, only to have it shot down by the constitutional council (which is filled with presidential appointees). so why go that extra step this time? was nazarbayev seriously floating the idea to see whether he could get away with it this time? did last week's meeting in washington get him to step back from the brink?
and what is the point of nazarbayev's new proposal to hold earlier presidential elections? he is sure to win if elections are held in 2012 as scheduled, and he's sure to win if they are held this year instead.
which makes me wonder what was the point of this entire circus. there is no way that any proposal to change the constitution would have gotten this far in kaz without the president's approval. (the referendum to extend the presidential term was passed unanimously in the parliament, those nur otan toadies won't do anything that major unless they're sure it's what prez naz wants). in the past, parliament has passed bills that would expand presidential powers only to have them vetoed; an elaborate sham to burnish nazarbayev's democratic credentials. this time, the parliament overrode the president's veto, only to have it shot down by the constitutional council (which is filled with presidential appointees). so why go that extra step this time? was nazarbayev seriously floating the idea to see whether he could get away with it this time? did last week's meeting in washington get him to step back from the brink?
and what is the point of nazarbayev's new proposal to hold earlier presidential elections? he is sure to win if elections are held in 2012 as scheduled, and he's sure to win if they are held this year instead.
