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Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev seems set to increase his rule by seven years as president of Kazakhstan with an exit ballot displaying him successful a snap election in a landslide as anticipated on November 20.
Toqaev gained 82.45 p.c of the vote, the ballot by the Open Society Institute confirmed.
First preliminary outcomes are due on November 21.
Regardless of billing himself as a reformer, Toqaev did not permit real opposition events to register and participate within the election.
His 5 fellow candidates — which embrace two ladies — had been little-known figures who should not seen as actual opponents.
Last voter turnout was put at 68.7 p.c by the Central Election Fee.
Police detained a number of dozen individuals who staged small-scale protests towards the vote in Almaty, calling it unlawful, in line with opposition teams and native media. Police stated some had been quickly launched, whereas others confronted misdemeanor costs.
The Group for Safety and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which despatched a monitoring group to look at the vote, was because of give its evaluation on November 21.
Forward of the vote, the OSCE had criticized Kazakhstan’s failure to satisfy electoral suggestions, together with “situations of eligibility and registration of candidates.”
Unbiased observers from Kazakh NGOs stated in lots of circumstances that they had confronted restrictions in making an attempt to observe the vote.
The November 20 election got here practically three months after Kazakhstan changed its system limiting presidents to 2 consecutive five-year phrases with a single seven-year time period. The constitutional adjustments had been proposed by Toqaev as a part of his marketing campaign to create what he calls “a brand new Kazakhstan.”
A presidential vote was initially due in 2024 and parliamentary elections in 2025.
However in September, Toqaev referred to as for early presidential and parliamentary elections, saying a brand new mandate was wanted to “preserve the momentum of reforms” following a June referendum that stripped ex-President Nursultan Nazarbaev of his prestigious “elbasy” (chief of the nation) standing.
The referendum to amend the structure — which included the brand new presidential time period restrict — has been offered by Toqaev as an vital step to shift Kazakhstan from a “super-presidential type of authorities to a presidential republic with a powerful parliament.”
However critics say the overhaul did not change the character of the authoritarian regime and didn’t take away any vital energy that the president’s workplace held.
Toqaev continues to distance himself from his predecessor, Nazarbaev, who stepped down in 2019 after practically three a long time in energy, naming longtime ally Toqaev as his successor.
After casting his poll within the capital, Astana, Nazarbaev instructed reporters that he had voted for the individual to whom he gave energy, which means Toqaev.
“I made my selection already again then, and the selection is definitive,” Nazarbaev stated, including the county now wanted “unity.”
Regardless of his resignation, Nazarbaev retained vital political energy and affect as the top of the Safety Council, whereas his cronies continued to carry vital positions in authorities and enterprise constructions.
However the state of affairs modified dramatically within the wake of lethal nationwide unrest in January, when protesters demanded an finish to Nararbaev and his household’s grip on the nation’s politics and wealth.
Toqaev subsequently eliminated Nazarbaev as Safety Council chief, taking it over himself. A number of of Nazarbaev’s kinfolk and allies have been faraway from their positions and a few have been arrested and prosecuted on corruption costs.
In July, Toqaev’s authorities introduced that it had recovered practically $500 million from funds allegedly stolen by Nazarbaev cronies.
In an obvious try to spice up his recognition, Toqaev raised the minimal wage by 17 p.c, elevated pensions by 27 p.c by 2025, and lowered the retirement age for girls from 63 to 61. He introduced the initiatives on September 1 in the identical speech that he referred to as for early elections.
Toqaev stated on November 20 that he would proceed “resetting” the political system by calling early parliamentary elections subsequent yr.
The parliamentary elections are anticipated to happen subsequent yr. The present Mazhilis, the decrease home of parliament, is dominated by the ruling social gathering, Amanat, previously often known as Nur Otan.
Activists Jailed, Scrutinized
Within the run-up to the election, a number of political activists have been arrested throughout the nation.
On November 15, Almaty police detained Aset Abishev, a member of the founding committee of the Algha Qazaqstan (Ahead, Kazakhstan) social gathering that has been making an attempt unsuccessfully for eight months to get registered for the election. The authorities did not say why Abishev was arrested.
Final week, 5 different members of the unregistered social gathering had been detained for participating in an unsanctioned rally in August.
Police within the southwestern city of Zhanaozen detained outstanding opposition activist Estai Qarashaev on November 15 and sentenced him to 6 days in jail on a cost of violating laws for holding public gatherings. The sentencing means Qarashaev will not be launched till a day after the election.
Rights activist Serik Ydyryshev was detained in his house village of Bobrovka within the East Kazakhstan area simply days earlier than the election. There was no quick remark from officers about his arrest. However Ydyryshev’s spouse instructed RFE/RL that his detention was linked to the upcoming election.
On November 14, Almaty-based opposition activist Rashid Qamaldanov was sentenced to fifteen days in jail for participating in an unauthorized rally earlier this yr.
Within the capital, Astana, jailed activist Sandughash Qantarbaeva started a starvation strike final weekend, protesting her administrative arrest. Qantarbaeva stated she is being saved behind bars to stop her from participating in protests on election day.
Many activists complained to RFE/RL that police have been monitoring their houses and motion within the run-up to the election.
Contacted by RFE/RL, an Inside Ministry official denied that police are allegedly taking measures to stop the activists from holding rallies.
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