Television debates of Kazakh president candidates to begin November 17
ASTANA, November 15 - Television debates of candidates to the post of the president Kazakhstan will be held on the Khabar television channel at 18:00 on November 17, according to a decision made by the country`s Central Election Commission (CEC).
According to CEC officials, the commission has approved the rules of procedure for the television debates. In view of the importance of the political campaign the CEC will provide an additional time on television to the presidential candidates so that "the candidates had an opportunity to hold discussions in a competitive manner, express their stances on a number of important matters and familiarise the electorate with their election programmes."
The CEC said the presidential runners "may either consent to of refuse from the participation in the debates." "Such debates may be organised between two or more candidates fro the presidential post," the CEC officials said.
"The main thing for the Central Election Commission is to observe the principles of voluntary participation in television debates and ensure equal rights to all the candidates for the president of Kazakhstan," CEC Chairman Onalsyn Zhumabekov said.
The Kazakh presidential elections are scheduled for December 4. Campaigning for the presidential candidates is currently underway. The CEC has registered five presidential hopefuls - incumbent President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, leader of the opposition bloc "For a Just Kazakhstan" Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, chairman of the ecological union of associations and enterprises of Kazakhstan "Tagibat" (Nature) Mels Yeleusizov, deputy of the Majilis (lower house of parliament) Yerasyl Abylkasymov and chairman of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan "Al Zhol" (Bright Path) Alikhan Baimenov.
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