Kazakh President Registered As Candidate

President Nazarbaev (file photo) 7 October 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Kazakhstan's central electoral commission today said incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbaev has been registered as a presidential candidate for the 4 December vote.
Earlier this week, the commission said it was considering 13 applications for the right to stand in the poll.

A total of 18 people submitted bids. Five were disqualified for failing to meet Kazakh language requirements.

The commission has until 24 October to check through the applications. To receive final approval, candidates must provide the signatures of 86,000 electors.

Campaigning for the election officially begins on 25 October.

Nazarbaev, who has run the republic since Soviet times, is seen as likely to win another term.

His main challenger is Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, leader of the pro-democracy opposition For a Fair Kazakhstan bloc.

(RFE/RL's Kazakh Service/ITAR-TASS)

See also:

Kazakhstan: President Shows He's Ready For Reelection Campaign

Kazakhstan: Can Opposition Compete In Presidential Elections?