[ad_1]
ALMATY, Nov 20 (Reuters) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev holds a snap election on Sunday that he’s sure to win, solidifying his grip on energy lower than a yr after he sidelined his long-ruling predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The previous diplomat, who got here to energy in 2019 as Nazarbayev’s hand-picked successor when the nation’s solely ruler for the reason that Soviet period stepped down, broke along with his ex-patron after a January rebellion that Tokayev referred to as a coup try.
A brand new election victory – a foregone conclusion towards 5 little-known candidates – will give Tokayev, 69, the kind of overwhelming private mandate that Nazarbayev routinely secured as he constructed a persona cult over 5 successive phrases.
Nazarbayev, who had held on to vital posts after stepping down, gave them up in the course of the rebellion during which 238 folks died. Tokayev has since compelled Nazarbayev allies to relinquish different positions, and altered the identify of the capital – renamed “Nur-Sultan” in Nazarbayev’s honour – again to Astana.
Tokayev referred to as in Russian assist to place down the unrest, however has since stored his distance from Moscow, avoiding giving public backing to Russia’s struggle in Ukraine.
Russia is Kazakhstan’s largest buying and selling companion, and Russia’s slide into recession has damage Kazakh financial development, whereas the power of the rouble boosted by capital controls has helped push inflation in Kazakhstan to a 14-year excessive.
Tokayev, a former overseas minister and deputy secretary basic of the United Nations, has overseen constitutional reforms which restrict his personal rule to 2 phrases. He has additionally promised to cut back revenue inequality by rooting out corruption and redistributing wealth extra pretty.
He mentioned on Sunday he would proceed “resetting” the political system by calling an early parliamentary election subsequent yr. Tokayev give up the ruling Amanat get together this yr and oversaw reforms making it simpler to determine new political events.
Opinion polls have predicted not one of the 5 different candidates would rating within the double digits.
“Amongst those that are working for president, I solely know Tokayev, firstly,” Timerlan Sadykov, a resident of Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis Almaty, mentioned on the eve of the vote.
“And secondly, the best way he is performed himself on the worldwide stage has been very interesting.”
One other Almaty voter, a 35-year-old supervisor who solely gave his first identify, Serik, mentioned he voted towards all candidates.
“…I feel the powers that be should realise they’ve given us no actual alternative,” he mentioned.
Nearly 39% of voters forged their ballots by midday. Exit ballot information might be revealed hours after polls shut at 8 p.m. (1400 GMT) and preliminary outcomes of the vote are anticipated on Monday.
Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov and Mariya Gordeyeva
Extra reporting by Tamara Vall in Astana
Modifying by Peter Graff and Frances Kerry
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.
[ad_2]
Source link
