Aq Jol Democratic Party

Aq Jol Democratic Party Ақ жол Демократиялық Партиясы Aq Jol Demokratialyq Partiasy
File:Ak Zhol Democratic Party logo.png
Chairman	Azat Peruashev
Founded	29 January 2002 (2002-01-29)
Registered	3 April 2002
Split from	Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan
Headquarters	Astana
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Economic liberalism Secularism Pro-Europeanism
Political position	Centre-right
National affiliation	People's Coalition
Seats in Mazhilis	12 / 107
Regional councillors	39 / 515
Municipal Assemblies	223 / 3,229
Website
akzhol.kz
Politics of Kazakhstan Political parties Elections

The Aq Jol Democratic Party (Kazakh: Ақ жол Демократиялық Партиясы, romanized: Aq Jol Demokratialyq Partiasy, Russian: Демократическая партия Казахстана «Ак жол», romanized: Demokraticheskaya partiya Kazakhstana «Ak zhol»), commonly referred to simply as Aq Jol (Kazakh: Ақ жол, romanized: Aq Jol, lit. 'Bright Path'), is a liberal-conservative political party in Kazakhstan. It has deputies in the Mazhilis and describes itself as "constructive opposition".

History

The Ak Zhol was founded in 2002 when a group of moderates split from the more radical Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, founded in November 2001 by anti-Nazarbayev activists. The new more moderate party ran on a pro-reform, pro-business platform, and in contrast to the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, its leaders refrained from openly confronting Nūrsūltan Nazarbayev. Aq Jol was founded by Oraz Jandosov, Bulat Äbılov and Alihan Baimenov. Former Information Minister Altynbek Särsenbaiūly later joined the party in 2003.

Aq Jol nominated Dania Espaeva as its candidate for the 2019 presidential election. It was the first time ever a woman ran for President in the country. Espaeva received 5.05 percent (465,714) of votes. Her participation in the election received praise from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly election observation mission as a good start for a higher women's representation in politics.

Electoral performance

Aq Jol received 12% of the votes at the 2004 legislative elections. Alihan Baimenov refused to accept the only seat the party received at the 77 member Mäjılıs until October 2006 when he reversed his position and joined parliament as the only deputy of an opposition party. The party advocated democratization of the political system, particularly elections of governors (akims) at all levels of the administrative system.

Fragmentation

In the spring of 2005, Särsenbaiūly, Äbılov and Jandosov split from the party to form a dissident faction named Nağyz Ak Jol (True Bright Path). At the last presidential elections on 4 December 2005 Aq Jol did not join the opposition political alliance For A Just Kazakhstan and instead nominated Alihan Baimenov, the chair, as the party candidate. Baimenov won 1.61% of the popular vote. One of the party leaders who later joined the Nağyz Ak Jol party, Altynbek Särsenbaiūly, was killed near Almaty in February 2006 soon after the presidential elections. In the 18 August 2007 Mäjılıs elections, the party won 3.27% of the popular vote and no seats. All seats were won by the ruling Nur-Otan party. In the 2012 Mäjılıs election, the party won 8 seats and thus becoming one of three parties represented in the legislature. The party won 7 seats in the 2016 Mäjılıs elections.

Despite officially being in opposition, the party is considered as loyal to the regime and often votes with the government.

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Election	Party candidate	Votes	%	Result
2005	Alihan Baimenov	108,730	1.61%	Lost N
2019	Dania Espaeva	465,714	5.05%	Lost N

Mäjılıs elections

Election	Party Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Result
2004	Alihan Baimenov	572,672	12.00%	1 / 77	1	4th	Opposition
2007		183,346	3.10%	0 / 98	1	3rd	Extra-parliamentary
2012	Azat Peruaşev	518,405	7.47%	8 / 98	8	2nd	Opposition
2016		540,406	7.18%	7 / 98	1	2nd	Opposition
2021		792,828	10.95%	12 / 98	5	2nd	Opposition

See also

• Category:Ak Zhol Democratic Party politicians