KAZAKHSTAN DEMOCRACY In 2010 President Nazarbayev rejected a call from constituents to hold a referen dum to keep him in office

until 2020 and, instead, insisted on an election to be held in April 2011. President Nazarbayev received 95.54 percent of the vote wit h 89.9 percent of registered voters participating. Many independent observers af firm that Kazakhstan's Presidential election shows progress. The decision by Pr esident Nazarbayev to hold an election is evidence of the substantial progress t oward Kazakhstans democracy. Prior to the election in April 2011, President Nazarbayev affirmed in an opinion piece in the Washington Post that Kazakhstans road to democracy is irreversible. P resident Nazarbayev outlined his plan for continued prosperity, progress, freedo m and stability for Kazakhstan in his 2011 inaugural address. http://www.erlanidrissov.com/ http://www.kazakhembus.com/index.php?page=kazakhstan-democracy