Fatherland (Kazakhstan)

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Kazakhstan
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Fatherland (Otan) is the largest political party in Kazakhstan, led by Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov with over 700,000 members.^[1]

Otan was originally established on February 12, 1999 after the merger of several previously independent pro-presidential parties, including the People's Union of Kazakhstan Unity, the Liberal Movement of Kazakhstan, and the "For Kazakhstan - 2030" Movement. At the so-called "uniting" congress, the new party outlined a program largely supportive of the government led by President Nursultan Nazarbayev.^[2]

A sign for the Otan (Fatherland) Party in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.

At the last legislative elections, 19 September and 3 October 2004, the party won 60.6% of the popular vote and 42 out of 77 seats.

In the run-up to previous elections, Otan usually received a majority of domestic media coverage. Before the 1999 election, for example, it was reported that Otan was the main focus in almost 60% of the coverage.^[3] Additionally, most of the country's major media outlets have political leanings towards Otan (now including those networks such as Khabar, which were formally supportive of Asar).

Otan merged with Dariga Nazarbayeva's Asar on 25 September, 2006^[1], increasing the party's seats by 4 to 46 out of 77.^{[citation needed]}

After the merged party was formed, President Nursultan Nazarbayev remarked to his daughter "Tell your Asar members that... you are returning to your father".^[4] Under the new agreement Nazarbayeva will act as one of three deputies beneath her father. The other two deputies are currently Bakhtyjan Jumagulov and Alexander Pavlov. Nazarbayeva said on 19 June, 2006 that all pro-Presidential parties should combine to create a grouping "with which no other party will be able to compete in the next 50 years".^[5]

In October 2006 it was announced that the Civic Party would follow in Asar's path and also merge with Otan to bring its 11 seats and increase Otan's share to 57 seats of 77. Nazarbayev said he expected other parties to merge with Otan. Nazarbayev said there should be fewer, stronger parties that "efficiently defend the interests of the population".[1]

These moves signal the first time in Kazakhstan's history that a ruling party, explicitly supportive of President Nazarbayev has been formed. Some have speculated that this may provide a useful tool in a future Presidential succession, and allow Otan to shape itself in the mould of Singapore's People's Action Party and Japan's Liberal Democratic Party^{[citation needed]}.