Ruling Party in Kazakhstan Receives 54% in Parliamentary Elections

Data shows that the ruling Amanat party in Kazakhstan secured 53.9% of the votes in early parliamentary elections, providing President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with a clear mandate to implement reforms in the oil-rich country in line with his social justice objectives. Opposition parties did not participate in the elections held on Sunday, but Western criticisms were less severe than usual as Europe and the United States seek to strengthen relations with Russia's neighbors disturbed by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe noted that pre-election reforms addressed some of the previous recommendations of the organization and "increased voter choices," although further changes are still necessary. Despite an official easing of party registration conditions, such as the number of signatures required from each region, no opposition parties were able to register before the elections. The election of the lower house completes a shift in the political elite of the Central Asian country that began when Tokayev sidelined his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, in early 2021 amid violent unrest. Tokayev (69) subsequently pledged to ensure a fairer distribution of wealth in the resource-rich nation.