Kazakhstan's ruling Adilet party wins parliamentary election with 70-72% of vote

Published Aug 23, 11:09 PM UTC

Kazakhstan's ruling Adilet party, supported by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has won the parliamentary election with a forecast 70-72% of the vote, according to state television projections. Only seven parties were allowed to run, all considered loyal to Tokayev, as several opposition groups remain banned. The election followed a constitutional reform passed in March that reduced parliament to a single chamber and reset Tokayev's term limits, allowing him to run again in 2029. Critics accuse Tokayev of using the reform to consolidate power. Voter turnout was reported at just over 74%. Tokayev, a former Soviet diplomat and UN official who succeeded Nursultan Nazarbayev, broke with his predecessor after the 2022 unrest, which he described as an attempted coup by Nazarbayev's allies. The election victory is expected to expand Tokayev's control at the expense of Nazarbayev loyalists.

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