"My decree on holding election on April 26 was a response to the initiative of the people…I want to thank those who put forward such an initiative. We are facing new and very serious issues. Based on our success, we have to move forward, that is why I came here and speak to you. I agree with you about my nomination with just one purpose, to set new aims," Nazarbayev said, speaking at the meeting of the Nur Otan party.

Earlier academician Kenzhegali Sagadiyev proposed to nominate Nazarbayev’s candidacy for early presidential elections in Kazakhstan.

"We have to nominate Nursultan Nazarbayev on behalf of the party and obtain his consent. Nazarbayev is the only worthy candidate," Sagadiyev said at the meeting of the Nur Otan party.

The early presidential election was proposed by the Council of the People’s Assembly of Kazakhstan. Major political parties, including the ruling party Nur Otan, the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol and Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan supported the initiative.

Both houses of the national parliament - Senate and Majilis - requested President Nursultan Nazarbayev to call an early presidential election. The country’s Constitutional Council has not found legislative restrictions for setting the date of an early election by the president.

Nazarbayev scheduled the early presidential election for April 26.

Kazakh president is elected by the citizens of age of the republic on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot for a term of five years, according to the Constitution of Kazakhstan.

The candidate must be a Kazakh citizen by birth not younger than 40 years old, fluent in the state language and who has lived in Kazakhstan for the recent 15 years may be elected president of Kazakhstan.

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