1995 Kazakh legislative election

A general election was held on December 9 and December 23, 1995 in Kazakhstan to elect a new government to elect a new government to the Majilis, the legislature of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Popular elections were to fill the 67 seats in the legislature.

Background

In March 1994, the first post-independence general elections for the former unicameral Parliament took place. A year later, Kazakhstan's Constitutional Court invalidated this poll and declared the legislature illegal. President of the Republic Nursultan Nazarbayev thereupon announced the dissolution of the Parliament and plans to rule by decree pending new elections. A majority of the 177 Deputies challenged the dissolution.

On 30 August 1995, a new Constitution providing, inter alia, for a smaller bicameral legislature was approved by popular referendum. On 2 October, the President announced the December election dates.

Elections

The overall conduct of the polling was overseen by the Central Election Commission (CEC). According to it, 285 candidates (128 self-nominated, 157 registered to parties or public associations) ran for the 67 Mazhilis seats. As for the Senate, 49 candidates vied for the 40 elective seats, with 14 of the 20 constituencies being uncontested. There were a series of limitations on pre-election campaigning.

The 9 December polling day for the Mazhilis was monitored by domestic and international observers and saw a reported turnout of over 79%. Observers from the OSCE questioned this figure, citing a number of irregularities, including multiple voting by the same individual. At the end of the day, only 41 candidates were declared elected with the required thresholds. Two weeks later, on 23 December, another 13 Deputies were chosen. Finally, on 4 February 1996, the remaining 13 seats were filled. Of the opposition parties, many boycotted the poll.

On 30 January, the newly-constituted Parliament met in joint session for the first time. The Council of Ministers was headed by Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin.