Kazakhstan votes in parliamentary election expected to strengthen president’s grip on power

Polls opened on Sunday in Kazakhstan's parliamentary elections, a vote seen as bolstering President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's authority in Central Asia's largest nation. The ruling pro-presidential Adilet party is expected to secure a substantial majority, with several smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also likely to gain seats in the new, single-chamber Kurultai parliament.

Tokayev, 73, assumed office in 2019 and has been striving to strike a balance between Russia and the West since sanctions were imposed on Russia in response to the Ukraine conflict. The constitutional overhaul he initiated in March, backed by 87% of voters, merged the two parliamentary chambers, granting the president authority to appoint key officials, including re-establishing a vice presidency.

Last month, Kazakhstan's Constitutional Court ruled that these amendments effectively reset the clock on Tokayev's previous terms, allowing him to seek re-election for another seven-year term. Economic challenges, including high inflation and tax hikes, have fueled public discontent ahead of the elections. Analysts warn that the political climate may be tense, citing recent crackdowns on press freedom and criminal cases against independent journalists and bloggers.