Daniya Yespayeva elected chair of Ak Zhol party after Peruashev's resignation

The Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Ak Zhol has elected a new chair. The decision was made on June 13 at an extraordinary congress of the political organization in Astana. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

The majority of delegates supported the candidacy of Deputy Chair of the party and Vice Speaker of the Mazhilis Daniya Yespayeva.

She replaced Azat Peruashev, who earlier during the congress announced his resignation. He explained his decision by the need to renew leadership and the principle of power rotation within the party.

It was Peruashev who proposed Yespayeva's candidacy to the delegates, calling her one of the most prominent representatives of the party.

In 2019, Yespayeva made history as the first woman nominated as a candidate for President of Kazakhstan.

At the congress, she had a competitor. One of the delegates proposed an alternative candidacy of Yermek Abildin – chair of the Karaganda regional branch of the party and a deputy of the regional maslikhat.

However, the majority of congress participants supported Yespayeva.

Daniya Yespayeva was born in Aktobe region and received an economic education.

Before entering big politics, she worked in the banking sector for more than three decades. Over the years, she held leadership positions in regional branches of BTA Bank and Kazkommertsbank.

Her total work experience in the financial sector is 34 years, of which 17 years she was in leadership positions.

Yespayeva began her political career in Aktobe region, where she was twice elected as a deputy of the regional maslikhat.

In 2016, she first became a deputy of the Mazhilis from the Ak Zhol party, worked in the Committee on Finance and Budget, and in March 2023 was elected Deputy Chair of the lower house of parliament.

In her parliamentary activities, Yespayeva regularly spoke on issues of small and medium business development, improving financial policy, supporting entrepreneurs, and social protection of the population.

During the 2019 presidential campaign, she paid special attention to issues of the economy, support for large families, women entrepreneurs, and strengthening the National Fund.