Tallinn, Estonia – Kazakhstan conducted a parliamentary election on Sunday that is likely to further consolidate President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev’s control over the nation’s political system. The newly created single‑chamber legislature, called the Kurultai, replaces the previous bicameral parliament.
Election outlook
Analysts expect the pro‑presidential Adilet party to win an overwhelming majority, while several smaller parties loyal to Tokayev are also projected to secure seats. The vote follows a constitutional referendum in March in which 87% of voters approved merging the two chambers and granting the president authority to appoint key officials, subject to parliamentary approval, including the reinstatement of a vice‑presidency.
Constitutional changes and future term
Last month Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court ruled that the amendments reset the clock on Tokayev’s previous terms, opening the possibility for him to run for another seven‑year term. Tokayev, 73, has been in office since 2019 and has framed the reforms as necessary for rapid decision‑making amid global challenges.
Economic backdrop and public sentiment
The election occurs amid economic strain, with inflation reaching 10.2% in February and recent tax hikes sparking public discontent. Officials are keen to avoid a repeat of the January 2022 unrest, when fuel‑price protests escalated into violent clashes that left dozens dead.
Media freedom concerns
International observers note an intensifying crackdown on media. Authorities have opened roughly ten criminal cases against independent journalists and popular bloggers. One recent case involves independent journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov, who faces up to seven years in prison on charges of “disseminating false information” after publishing a list of Kazakh citizens fighting in Ukraine.
Akhmedyarov said the streets of major Kazakh cities are “flooded with advertisements and posters for the pro‑presidential Adilet party,” and added that the election outcome appears predictable.
President’s remarks
Tokayev called the vote a “truly historic event” and said it will be remembered as perhaps the most interesting in the country’s history, emphasizing the need to implement a strategy to transform Kazakhstan into a developed state.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
