Astana Won’t be Renamed. So far
Kazakhstan, Politics and SocietyOne Comment
Last week former Defense Minister and incumbent MP Sat Tokpakbaev came out with the proposal to rename Astana, the capital city, to Nursultan in honor of the president. A clear majority of the one-party Legislature was fast to voice support to this idea - apparently, they were not sure of the president’s reaction, and placed a bet on the non-lose stake. The others kept silence and not a single one deputy questioned the initiative.
The substantiation for the idea consisted of 1) “huge role of the president in the building of Kazakhstan and Astana, and his qualities”; 2) “president used Astana as a big locomotive of growth” and 3) “president was a foreman and a father of Astana - he controlled strictly the construction of each street and building”.
However, few days later the president rejected the idea.
“I am not partisan to changing the name of Astana, especially if it concerns my name,” Nazarbayev told media in the western city of Atyrau.
The president said he would not be signing any name-changing legislation into effect, but did not oppose the idea that the capital one day be named in honour of him. “The decision to change the name will be made by another generation,” said Nazarbayev, who several years ago personally renamed Akmola to Astana.
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