Kazakhstan’s pro-government Adilet Party has achieved a noteworthy victory in the recent parliamentary election, as officially announced on Monday. This outcome is anticipated to further enhance President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev‘s authority in Central Asia’s largest country. Preliminary results from Kazakhstan’s central electoral commission indicate that Adilet, led by the former head of Tokayev’s presidential administration, garnered 71% of the vote. The Auyl Party secured the second position with 6.26%, while three additional parties—the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Respublica, and Aq Jol—exceeded the 5% threshold for parliamentary representation.
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reported that the election was characterised by a deficiency of genuine political opposition, noting that “all contesting parties supported the incumbent president’s policies.”
Voter participation was reported at 74% of the country’s 12.6 million eligible voters. In an effort to enhance voter turnout, officials employed innovative methods, including transporting some voters to polling stations by parachute and hot air balloon.
This election marks the inaugural selection of lawmakers for the newly established single-chamber parliament, known as the Kurultai, following constitutional reforms initiated by President Tokayev in March. The constitutional changes were endorsed by 87% of voters in a recent referendum proposing to merge the two chambers of parliament. Additionally, these amendments grant the president the authority to appoint key officials, subject to confirmation by the parliament.
In a noteworthy ruling last month, Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court determined that the recent amendments effectively reset the timeline for Tokayev’s previous terms in office, enabling him to seek an additional seven-year term upon the expiration of his current mandate in 2029.
This decision reflects a trend observed in several former Soviet republics, including Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, where leaders have revised constitutional provisions to modify statutory term limits.
President Tokayev, who is 73 years old and has a background as a former Soviet official and Kazakh diplomat, has held office since 2019. He has worked to maintain a balance between Moscow and Western countries, particularly in light of the sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Tokayev has justified the constitutional modifications, citing the necessity for agile decision-making in a rapidly changing global environment.
The election also took place amid a challenging economic landscape in Kazakhstan, where inflation rose to 10.2% in February, accompanied by tax increases that have led to public dissatisfaction. Analysts suggest that these economic pressures have prompted authorities to be cautious about a repeat of the civil unrest witnessed in January 2022, when protests over fuel prices escalated into violence, resulting in numerous casualties among both demonstrators and law enforcement. Tokayev appears to be taking measures to prevent such occurrences by concentrating power.
Furthermore, the electoral process unfolded amid increasing restrictions on press freedom. Media organisations have called upon President Tokayev to dismiss criminal charges against several journalists currently under house arrest and to amend legislation to protect freedom of expression. Authorities have initiated approximately ten criminal cases against independent journalists and well-known bloggers.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
