Astana, 26 October. The Central Election Commission has set which campaign costs of candidates in the 29 November snap elections to local councils (maslikhats) will be covered by the national budget: up to 700,000 tenge per candidate for the councils of Astana, the regions and cities of national significance, up to 650,000 for city councils and up to 500,000 for district councils, the commission said.
For a candidate to a top-level council, 410,000 tenge of the 700,000 is earmarked for television and radio appearances and two articles in print or online media, 180,000 for campaign events and materials, and 110,000 for transport. For district councils these sums are 290,000, 130,000 and 80,000 tenge. This is not a personal payment to the candidate but a ceiling on spending on specific campaign activities paid for by the state. The resolutions were signed by commission chairman Nurlan Abdirov; campaigning runs until 00:00 on 28 November.
A maslikhat is an elected representative body of local government in a region, city or district: it approves the local budget and development programmes and oversees their implementation. On 29 November voters will elect 3,447 deputies to 228 maslikhats. To stand, a candidate in a single-member district pays an election deposit of five minimum wages, or 425,000 tenge; parties with a score of 5% or more pay no deposit. Money for the snap elections, according to National Economy Minister Serik Zhumangarin, will come from the government reserve.
What it means: The state covers part of every candidate's campaign costs in equal amounts to level the starting conditions. The candidate, in turn, pays a deposit of comparable size.
Who benefits: Candidates without big sponsors get a guaranteed minimum of airtime, publications and transport. Voters get more information about the candidates.
Background: Before the vote, election commissions plan to train more than 86,000 of their members, including about 70,000 precinct commission members; voting on 29 November will run from 7:00 to 20:00.
