No Surprises in Kazakh Politics: New Presidential Party Wins Majority

Five parties contested the recent Kazakh election for the Kurultai, the new unicameral parliament, but the distribution of power remains unchanged. Adilet emerged as the clear winner, securing 71 percent of the vote according to official preliminary data. The other parties, Auyl, Ak Zhol, the National Social Democratic Party, and Respublica, all managed to cross the 5 percent threshold and enter parliament, but their support was minimal compared to Adilet.

Voter turnout across Kazakhstan was reported to be over 74 percent. The OSCE election observation mission noted that while the polls were technically well organized, the elections took place in an environment lacking political pluralism. They highlighted discrepancies in reported voter turnout and raised concerns about possible voter pressure.

All seven parties endorsed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's policies, and there was limited media coverage leading up to the election. Independent candidates were barred from running, and only officially registered parties were allowed to compete, effectively barring those without government approval. Adilet, despite its new name, is a party with deep ties to the existing political landscape.

It was formed in spring 2026, but its roots trace back to the merger of Kazakhstan’s former ruling party, Amanat, with Adilet in June. This merger marked a continuation of the party's long-standing association with the presidency, which began with Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1999 and was passed on to Tokayev in 2022. The election, therefore, did little to change the status quo, with the pro-presidential parties maintaining their grip on power.