On 21 October 1998, a public association in supporting Nursultan Nazarbayev's reelection campaign in the 1999 presidential election was created.

On 19 January 1999, a meeting of the public association was held, at which it was decided to transform the organization into the Otan party.

The delegates of the Congress chose Nazarbayev to be the chairman and adopted the composition of the audit commission and the party Charter.

[1] Nursultan Nazarbayev refused to accept the post as chairman due to constitutional limits on president's affiliation with political parties.

Nazarbayev nevertheless remained as a de facto Chairman and the party went on to participate in the 1999 legislative election.