Kazakhstan election: pro-Tokayev party set for landslide as president hints at staying on

A party led by allies of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won a landslide in parliamentary elections on Sunday, hours after he hinted that he may stay in power beyond his current term.

The Adilet party won 71.8 per cent of votes in the election to a new single-chamber parliament, according to an exit poll released on state television. The Auyl party representing agrarian interests was second with 6.4 per cent.

“I have the right to be re‑elected in accordance with the law,” Tokayev told reporters earlier, after casting his vote, in response to a question on whether he would seek another term. “Perhaps next year I’ll be able to give you a more specific answer.”

Adilet, which means Justice, is led by one of Tokayev’s former top aides with backing from business leaders who have gained influence during his presidency. It was founded only in May, and the former ruling Amanat party, which won the 2023 parliamentary elections, announced in June that it was merging with Adilet.

Seven parties contested 145 seats allocated by party list for a five-year term in the new parliament. Five had cleared the 5 per cent threshold, according to the exit poll conducted by the Institute of Eurasian Integration, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point. Voter turnout was 74.19 per cent, according to the country’s central election commission.

The new chamber is the latest element of a constitutional overhaul initiated by Tokayev following deadly 2022 riots that he called an attempted coup in the giant former Soviet republic of about 20 million people. It replaces the previous bicameral parliament, following a referendum in March that also established the post of vice-president, who would succeed the head of state in the event of an early departure from office.