Communist Party of Kazakhstan

Communist Party of Kazakhstan
Name	Communist Party of Kazakhstan
Native name	Қазақстан Коммунистік Партиясы
Foundation	16 October 1991
Predecessor	Communist Party of the Kazakh SSR
Headquarters	Astana, Kazakhstan
Ideology	Communism, Marxism–Leninism
Position	Far-left
International	International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties
Colours	Red
Seats1 title	Mazhilis
Seats1	0, 98

Communist Party of Kazakhstan. The Communist Party of Kazakhstan is a far-left political party operating in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Founded in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it positions itself as the successor to the Communist Party of the Kazakh SSR. The party advocates for a return to socialism and maintains fraternal ties with other communist parties across the post-Soviet states.

History

The party was officially established in October 1991, shortly after the August Coup and the subsequent suspension of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Its founding congress was held in Alma-Ata, then the capital of the Kazakh SSR. Throughout the 1990s, it was a principal opposition force to the administration of Nursultan Nazarbayev, often aligning with other left-wing groups in the Supreme Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The party faced legal challenges, including a temporary ban in the 1990s, but was later reinstated by the Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan. Its historical narrative emphasizes continuity with the Soviet-era industrialization of the Virgin Lands campaign and the legacy of figures like Dinmukhamed Kunaev.

Ideology and platform

The party's doctrine is firmly rooted in Marxism–Leninism and proletarian internationalism. Its platform calls for the nationalization of key industries, the restoration of a planned economy, and the provision of extensive social welfare programs. It strongly opposes the privatization policies enacted since independence and what it terms "neoliberal" reforms. The party also champions Slavic and Russian linguistic rights, reflecting a segment of its electorate. Its ideological statements often reference classical texts by Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin.

Organizational structure

The party is organized on the principle of democratic centralism. Its supreme body is the Congress, which elects a Central Committee and a First Secretary. Lower structures include regional committees in cities like Almaty, Shymkent, and Karaganda, as well as primary party organizations in industrial centers such as Zhezkazgan and Pavlodar. The party maintains a youth wing, historically named the Leninist Young Communist League, and publishes the newspaper *Kazakhstanskaya Pravda*. Its internal life is governed by a Party Charter adopted at its founding congress.

Leadership

The first leader of the reconstituted party was Serikbolsyn Abdildin, a former Politburo member. Subsequent leaders have included Vladislav Kosarev and Gaziz Aldamzharov. The leadership has often comprised veterans of the Soviet nomenklatura and officials from the Komsomol. Elections for the position of First Secretary are held at party congresses, with the leadership maintaining close consultative ties with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and the Communist Party of China.

Electoral history and performance

The party participated in the 1994 Kazakh legislative election, winning seats in the first post-Soviet Mazhilis. Its performance peaked in the 1999 Kazakh presidential election when its candidate, Serikbolsyn Abdildin, secured a significant minority of the vote. However, its parliamentary representation has declined sharply since the early 2000s, failing to clear the 7% electoral threshold in subsequent elections under party-list proportional representation. It last held a seat following the 2012 Kazakh legislative election but has been absent from the Mazhilis since 2016, also boycotting some polls like the 2021 Kazakh legislative election.

Relationship with other parties

The party is a regular participant in the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties and maintains bilateral relations with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova. Within Kazakhstan, it has been part of various left-wing and opposition blocs, such as the People's Patriotic Party "**Auyl**". It views the ruling Amanat party as its main political adversary. The party also engages with organizations like the World Federation of Democratic Youth and the World Peace Council.

Category:Communist parties in Kazakhstan Category:Political parties established in 1991 Category:Far-left political parties