Kazakhstan Holds Early Parliamentary Elections

Residents of Kazakhstan began voting in early parliamentary elections on Sunday that could further strengthen the position of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The country is one of the world's leading exporters of energy resources and minerals.

The elections follow the adoption of a new constitution, which transformed the bicameral parliament into a unicameral one. Last month, Kazakhstan's supreme court also ruled that the new constitution allows Tokayev, who has been president since 2019, to run for a new seven-year term.

Polls predict a landslide victory for the newly formed pro-presidential Adilet party. The former ruling party, Amanat, which under various names had dominated the country's politics since the 1990s, has merged into Adilet. Several opposition parties are also running, but they are considered largely loyal to the president.

After voting in Astana, Tokayev said it is still too early to say whether he will run for another presidential term.

(Reuters, sab)