Kazakhstan: The opposition parties of NSDP and Azat united
National social-democratic party (NSDP) of Kazakhstan and Azat Democratic Party announced their integration into Azat National social-democratic party, KazTAG reports. According to NSDP Chairman Zharmakhan Tuyakbay, the decision to establish the united party was made at common session of Azat and NSDP. Technically, Azat party will join NSDP. Mr. Tuyakbay also says that NSDP congress will adopt the amendment in the party charter and also revise the party program, "considering new forces, joining the party".
The invitation to integrate was also sent to the leaders of two other opposition parties – Alga and Communist party. However, their leaders rejected the proposal. Bulat Abilov, the Head of Azat, declared that new united party is open for integration with other parties. "We can always find the compromise for integration", explained Abilov.
The national social-democratic party will have two co-chairman. Allegedly, the number of members in the united party will reach about 400 thousand people since, as per deputy Head of Azat party Petr Svoik, "each party has about 200 thousand members".
The press-release of national party, published at Zona.kz, says:
"Only apparent will of peoples of Kazakhstan can prevent total regression of our country to the backyard of the modern world. There is no other "Kazakh way", except for freedom, justice and worthy life for everyone! In these conditions the general interest of democratic opposition in urgent launch of deep political reforms becomes the matter of vital importance for our country, making current differences in the party program insignificant in relation to the drama of historic moment as well as predefining maximum consolidation of all forces, caring about Motherland. As the alternative to ruling party we present new modern left-of-center party that puts the idea of freedom and social justice against authoritarian ruling regime".