Kazakhstan parliamentary vote cements president's power
Candidates from seven state-approved parties took part in the election, while opposition parties were banned. As Central Asia's largest nation, Kazakhstan maintains a delicate balance between Russia and the West.
On Sunday, Kazakhstan's ruling party, Adilet, garnered a clear victory in the country's single-chamber parliament election, according to exit polls. The polls indicated the party secured between 70% to 72% of the vote. The election followed the adoption of a new constitution in March, which abolished the Senate and established the Kurultai, an entity reminiscent of the medieval councils of the region's nomadic history.
Advocates argue that the new body would empower parliament in decision-making, while detractors believe it will solidify President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's authority. Tokayev, 73, succeeded authoritarian Nursultan Nazarbayev, who held power for 30 years post the Soviet Union's disintegration, in 2019. The ruling party, backed by seven state-approved parties, was expected to dominate the vote, while exit polls revealed that four smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also gained seats.
The election occurred amidst high inflation (around 10.2%) and escalating taxes, raising apprehensions about a possible repeat of the January 2022 cost-of-living protests that resulted in 238 fatalities. Beyond economic concerns, the vote took place amid restrictions on press freedom, with several journalists under house arrest and 10 independent journalists and bloggers facing official criminal charges.
In his Friday address, Tokayev highlighted his reforms and the necessity of his constitutional changes, stating that these elections would be remembered as a notable event in Kazakhstan's history.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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