Kazakhstan, Astana, March 31 / Trend A.Maratov /
The OSCE observation mission will present a report on snap presidential elections in Kazakhstan next Monday, head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Delegation Tonino Picula said.
"I understand that building democracy is not easy, but each election allows to step ahead. I, as the coordinator, will give you a report on the elections on April 3," Picula said after meeting with Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev.
The current presidential campaign in Kazakhstan, he added, runs rather sluggishly, as candidates are only opponents of the formal head of state. The first stage of the presidential campaign - candidate registration - was closed on March 2. The campaign, which will end two days before the election day, was launched on March 3.
Four candidates passed registration at the Kazakh Central ElectionCommission (CEC) and will continue to participate in the snap presidential elections scheduled for April 3. The candidates are Nursultan Nazarbayev, Communist Zhambyl Ahmetbekov, leader of the Patriots Party, Senator Gani Kasimov and Tabiyat Ecological Union leader Mels Eleusizov.
Experts believe Nazarbayev might easily win the election. Nazarbayev, who has been in power for over 20 years, is supported by about 90 percent of the population.
He said OSCE observers are present in the country's all regions and will report on the situation on the ground.
Kazakhstan has created all the conditions for effective work for the international observers, Saudabayev said at the meting.
The Kazakh Central Election Commission reported that 1,059 observers, including 357 from the OSCE / ODIHR, 424 from the CIS mission, 12 from the SCO, 99 from international organizations and 162 from foreign governments, will monitor the elections.
