Government Distances Itself from Politics

Although the new Kazak government headed by Karim Masimov has completed its first hundred days with some success, NBCentralAsia observers warn that it in danger of becoming too technocratic.



On April 25, Prime Minister Karim Masimov summarised the first three months the new government’s work, praising his colleagues’ work and saying the cabinet had developed “a corporate spirit”, according to the Kazakhstan Today news agency.



Analysts say the government’s plan to halve the number of state programmes in an effort to improve efficiency, promote administrative reform and develop a strong social and economic programme are the most progressive aspects of Masimov’s development strategy.



Masimov, formerly deputy prime minister, Masimov took office on January 10, replacing Danial Ahmetov, who is now defence minister.



Yevgeny Aman, a member of the Senate or upper house of parliament and a member of legislature’s economics, finance and budget commission, says the cabinet really has adopted new methods. “It has more wide-ranging approach to economic reform, and it has really quickened the pace. [There is] a clear macroeconomic focus to reform and… methods of managing to make it happen,” he said.



However, political scientist Aydos Sarimov says the government has proved too technocratic.



“The government has distanced itself from social and political issues, occupying a comfortable, pragmatic niche – dealing with the economy,” he said. “However, the government must deal with political issues; it should not be too technocratic.”



Sarimov says the government is also failing to concentrate on the main priority, getting away from over-dependence on mineral resources, in particular oil exports. He attributes this to the cabinet’s “somewhat chaotic” modus operandi.



Experts estimate that 30 per cent of the government budget depends on petrodollars - five times more than was the case in the late Nineties.



“The oil revenues are virtually smothering small- and middle-sized businesses, and preventing them from developing,” he said. “Since the entire state is constructed around a simple redistribution of these revenues, no one cares about small- and middle-sized businesses.”



(News Briefing Central Asia draws comment and analysis from a broad range of political observers across the region.)