The government of Kazakhstan was on the verge of resignation

Not everyone has the ability to implement President Tokayev’s reforms

The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov, offered to make room for ministers who are not confident in their own abilities. He recalled that the President of the country, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, wanted to find out whether it was possible to enter the new year with this composition of the government. The expert is convinced that this winter the Cabinet of Ministers may be replaced in the republic.

“Each member of the government is expected to work efficiently,” Smailov recalled at a government meeting. – So that every Kazakhstani citizen can feel the result. Colleagues, the demand will be very tough. Who will cope, he will work. Those who are not confident in their abilities can apply for resignation right now. There is a place here only for those who root for the people, make bold decisions and bear responsibility for them. Only with such a team can we achieve our goal.”

The prime minister did not say what specific tasks he was talking about, but earlier Tokayev demanded that the government devote all its efforts to the implementation of his election program. Large-scale reforms are expected: to overcome social inequality, to deal with unscrupulous monopolists, to solve pressing social problems…

What is the reason for Smailov’s current statement, “MK” explained political scientist Islam Kuraev:

– The Cabinet of Ministers will be effective if the prime minister himself and his office set clear tasks for each ministry. Efficiency is needed to perform these tasks. But it is difficult. Many are not ready for such a large-scale transformation, and this must be taken into account.

Plus, ministers are often appointed not according to their abilities, but in the course of behind-the-scenes conversations or due to lack of personnel. Of course, no one puts the president’s words in the background. But not everyone has the ability to implement such ideas. A bureaucratic culture has developed in the post-Soviet space, where the apparatus itself is bloated and its effectiveness is very low.

– What can be done in this case?

– It seems to me that we need to optimize all departments, and only after that we can talk about efficiency. Optimization will bring talented people from the corporate sector who will already be able to build the necessary mechanisms. Without this, the ministries will not succeed. I repeat: bloated staff and inefficient work.

– Did Smailov mean any specific instructions of the President?

– Most likely, we are talking about the readiness to fulfill the entire package of Tokayev’s requirements. Every year in February, the Cabinet reports to the president, as well as deputies, and the question is raised of extending the mandate of trust in this government or forming a new one. Most likely, this is the reason for these partly populist statements.

Is it possible to expect the resignation of the government?

– Yes, because the Cabinet of Ministers failed all the programs that were expected of them

– What are the main mistakes?

– Let’s say we had to have an anti-crisis program, road maps, various approaches to overcoming the crisis and difficult situations. There is none of this.

– After the disaster in Ekibastuz, when the city was left without heating in the wild frosts, Tokayev instructed to transfer the assets of unscrupulous private companies to the state. Are there many opponents of this idea?

– Nationalization has been discussed lately. But, as we know, the state is a bad manager in such matters. I personally do not support such ideas. The state can demand modernization from private traders, but if the state starts modernization itself, then frenzied money laundering or kickbacks will begin there.