Baku, Azerbaijan, April 3
By Yelena Kosolapova - Trend:
The decision-making principle is important in the new key appointments in Kazakhstan, according to Alexei Vlasov, the executive director of the North-South Political Science Centre and editor-in-chief at the Vestnik Kavkaza news agency.
Earlier under the decrees by the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the former Kazakh PM Serik Akhmetov was appointed the defence minister, while the former Defence Minister Adilbek Jaksybekov was appointed secretary of state and the former speaker of the lower chamber of parliament Nurlan Nigmatulin was appointed the presidential administration's head.
Vlasov said that Nazarbayev has once again mixed the positions of government officials, straight up, without any intrigue.
"Everyone was moved as in a queue," Vlasov told Trend on April 3, adding that Nurlan Nigmatulin got the post he really deserved.
"A strong organizer, as expected, became the head of the presidential administration of Kazakhstan," he said.
Vlasov believes that Jaksybekov, as a secretary of state, most likely will not offer anything new in essence and will carry out direct orders from the Kazakh president.
"Thus it seems that there will not be a serious debate in the civil sector on national ideology issues. The main role in this area will be played by the Kazakhstan People Assembly and the Kazakhstan-2050 movement," Vlasov said.
At the same time Serik Akhmetov, who seemed to be demoted, is still significant, and no public complaints were made against him, he said.
"So, there may come a time when he will be needed again at a different, higher level," the expert said.
Vlasov believes that as a result the inner circle has been moved along the line of the new arrangement, but the real balance of forces between the groups of influence has not changed much.
"Only Karim Massimov again showed that in terms of the president's confidence he almost has no 'rivals', and Nigmatulin took another big step up," said the expert.
Earlier, Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov resigned and his resignation was accepted by the president. The resignation of the head of Cabinet of Ministers means resignation of the whole government, according to Kazakhstan's legislation.
At the same time, the ministers will continue to perform their duties until new appointments, according to Kazakh legislation.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed the candidacy of Karim Massimov to the post of the new prime minister.
Massimov previously held this post from 2007 to 2012. The candidacy was approved by Kazakhstan's parliament.
Translated by E.A.
Edited by S.I.