In a country with multi-party system, the main indicator of political life is the activity of parties, especially in the periods between elections. In this regard, it can be seen that there are actually only two parties active now — the ruling “Nur Otan” and “Azat”, the former “True Ak Zhol” party led by Bulat Abilov. In response to “Nur Otan’s” crusade against corruption, “Azat” declares war to poverty and believes that it’s demands reflect the people’s will.

The major opposition party launches a drive for signatures campaign in support of its suggested immediate steps to eliminate poverty and ensure continuation of democatic reforms. There are four measures offered by the party to the citizens, who should put their signatures if they agree with the “Azat’s” suggestions.

According to the party leaders, the state budget has “spare” $3 billion, which are to be spent for fair compensation of the costs of inflation. “Azat” wants to cut spendings for pompous projects in Astana, excessive budgets of the force structures and boundless funneling of money into the state holdings. In stead, they want all budget-paid salaries, pensions, stipends or benefits to be adequate to the minimal cost of living and improved adequately to the real inflation rate.

The second issue is revision of the contracts in the country’s extractive sector, which are not good for Kazakhstan in terms of excessive tax benefits, wide space for labor and environmental violations. Besides, “Azat” wants to substitute a 13 percent VAT with a 5 percent taxation of retail sales. The last, but not the least, is entry to the Council of Europe and further integration in the European institutions as a guarantee of bolstering the democratic process and ensuring the citizens’ rights and freedoms.