Kazakhs begin voting in election set to tighten president’s power

Kazakhs commenced voting on Sunday in a snap parliamentary election, which appears to strengthen President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's authority over the Central Asian nation, a significant energy and minerals exporter. The election was instigated by the introduction of a new constitution earlier this year, which consolidates parliament from two chambers into a single chamber.

Kazakhstan's Supreme Court recently affirmed that the new constitution authorizes Tokayev, who assumed office in 2019, to contest for another seven-year term. Recent opinion polls indicate a substantial majority in favor of Adilet, a pro-Tokayev party established just months ago, absorbing the previous ruling party, Amanat, which had held sway over Kazakh politics since the 1990s.

Several opposition parties, all of which are perceived as broadly supporting Tokayev, are also vying in the election. During a press conference, Tokayev stated that it is premature to speculate whether he would seek another term. Tokayev succeeded Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and diverged from his predecessor following a 2022 period of unrest, which he attributes to a coup attempt by Nazarbayev's associates.