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

Tallinn, Estonia — Kazakh voters cast their ballots on Sunday in a parliamentary election that is anticipated to bolster President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's authority in Central Asia's most populous country. The pro-presidential Adilet party is projected to secure a decisive majority, with several smaller parties allied with Tokayev also expected to gain seats in the new parliament.

This election marks the nation's inaugural vote for the Kurultai, a single-chamber legislature established following the constitutional reforms initiated by Tokayev in March. The 73-year-old leader, a former Soviet official and Kazakh diplomat with UN experience, assumed office in 2019. The vote concludes the implementation of a constitutional amendment that Tokayev spearheaded, which saw 87% of the electorate endorse a referendum to consolidate the two parliamentary chambers into one and empower the president to appoint key personnel, requiring parliamentary approval.

Tokayev's administration has sought to navigate a delicate equilibrium between Russia and the West since Russia's sanctions following the Ukrainian conflict.