Kazakhstan’s pro-government party wins parliamentary election, boosting president’s grip on power

Kazakhstan's pro-government party, Adilet, secured a decisive victory in a parliamentary election on Sunday, officials declared on Monday. This outcome is anticipated to bolster President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's authority across Central Asia's most populous country. Adilet, helmed by a former head of Tokayev's presidential administration, garnered 71% of the vote, according to preliminary results from the central electoral commission.

The second-place finisher, Auyl Party, claimed 6.26% of the total vote. Three other parties – Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Respublica, and Aq Jol – surpassed the 5% threshold to secure parliamentary seats, but all endorsed the incumbent president's policies.

Election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe highlighted the lack of a clear political opposition, with all parties backing Tokayev's administration. Voter turnout reached 74% of the 12.6 million eligible voters, marking the inaugural election for Kazakhstan's new single-chamber parliament, known as the Kurultai.

This body emerged from a constitutional amendment adopted in March, following a referendum supported by 87% of voters. The overhaul granted Tokayev the power to appoint key officials, subject to legislative endorsement.

The 73-year-old president, a former Soviet official and Kazakh diplomat who has led the nation since 2019, utilized the constitutional changes to seek another seven-year term after his current mandate concludes in 2029. This move mirrors recent actions in other post-Soviet states, such as Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, where leaders have revised term limits through constitutional amendments.

President Tokayev has maintained a delicate balance between Russia and the West since Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow in response to the Ukraine conflict. The constitutional amendments were justified by the president as essential for swift decision-making in a rapidly evolving global landscape. However, the election unfolded amidst economic challenges, with inflation reaching 10.2% in February and tax hikes fueling public dissatisfaction.

Authorities have expressed concerns over repeating the unrest witnessed during the 2022 fuel price protests, which claimed the lives of several protesters and police officers. To mitigate potential unrest, Tokayev has been tightening control by concentrating power in his own hands, including the recent criminal charges against several journalists under house arrest and proposed legislation to enforce freedom of speech.