The government of Kazakhstan proposes to add yet another two holidays: The Day of the Organ for Financial Monitoring (January 28) and the Day of the End of the Soviet War in Afghanistan (February 15). The proposal could take effect December 28.
It would be simpler if Astana just declared which days were not public holidays. The country already has at least eight, according to the embassy in Washington: New Year, International Women's Day, Nauryz (the Turkic New Year), Unity Day, Victory Day, Astana Day, Constitution Day, and Independence Day (which was yesterday). I see that the embassy does not list a holiday for the First President. Nursultan Nazarbayev was ousted in 2019.
Everyone loves a pradznyk (holiday). Creating one is a time-honored way for Astana to win over the public. But holidays aren't free. When the government closes to celebrate, it doesn't issue driver's licenses or respond to complaints about the trash. Moreover, the public servants must still be paid. Since the government doesn't collect fees on the holiday, it must borrow money that taxpayers must pay back later, with interest. Is the Day of the Organ for Financial Monitoring worth this expense?
Iran may hold the world record for public holidays, with 26. The way that things are going, to survive, the government may need a few more.
--Leon Taylor, Baltimore tayloralmaty@gmail.com
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