KAZAKHSTAN'S PRIME MINISTER STEPS DOWN
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Addressing parliamentarian deputies
on January 28, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kasymjomart Tokayev announced that he
resigns from his post with presidential approval. A career diplomat educated at the
International Relations Institute in Moscow, one of the most prestigious educational
establishments of the Soviet Union, Tokayev had been in diplomatic service in China
immediately prior to Kazakhstan's independence. He was recalled to his native country and
appointed deputy foreign minister. In 1999 he became Prime Minister.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">At that time Kazakhstan found itself
in dire need of financial sources, and Tokayev used all his diplomatic skills to negotiate
investments with foreign oil companies. It is generally recognized that his efforts to
draw investment brought immediate results. In the two years of his tenure as Prime
Minister, economic growth reached 23%. The country, according to official reports, has
repaid all its foreign debts. The beginning of this year was marked by a slight increase
in the salaries of public employees and pensions.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">But some commentators from the
opposition's ranks are more inclined to link all these signs of economic recovery to the
favorable climate in world oil markets, and
not to the personal abilities of the 48 year-old Prime Minister. Quite to the contrary,
the former soft-spoken diplomat, a fluent speaker of Chinese, English and French, is
widely considered to be incompetent in economic matters. He also keeps away from political
factions and the intrigues of financial oligarchs. This attitude earned him a reputation
of being a single honest man in a hopelessly corrupted government.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Tokayev's decision to step down
hardly surprised anyone. It has been rumored for quite a long time. What really surprised
the public is why it did not happen earlier. Just on New Year's Eve, some key deputy
ministers responsible for the economy left the cabinet to form an oppositional movement,
'Democratic Choice of Kazakstan'. This unprecedented step demonstrated the inability of
Tokayev to handle the political situation. To all appearances, his decision to leave his
post was prompted by the president, who has however never shown the slightest
dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The same day, speaking in
parliament, President Nursultan Nazarbayev named a new prime minister, 45 year-old
Imangali Tasmaganbetov. Deputies unanimously voted for the presidential nominee. According
to the Constitution of Kazakhstan, all government members had to quit their posts
following the Prime Minister's resignation, and a new government was to be formed within
ten days. The former Prime Minister said he will take up his diplomatic career again.
"I feel time has come to allow people with new visions and a modern mindset take my
place", he said in his farewell speech.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">It is hard, however, to brand
Imangali Tasmaganbetov as a liberal. He started his
political career as the leader of the Komsomol (Young Communist League) of Kazakhstan in
the early 1980s and rose to be the governor of the oil-rich Atyrau region. He is a typical
functionary of the old administrative schooling. But in his new position as Prime
Minister, he will have to tackle problems which will require not only the ability to
govern, but also to show resilience in changing political realities.
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face="Lucida Bright">Marat Yermukanov, Kazakhstan
