Status: 03/19/2023 09:59 am
For the first time in 20 years, independent candidates are running in parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan. But real competition with President Tokayev is not allowed, experts criticize.
In Kazakhstan in Central Asia, citizens are called upon to elect the national parliament as well as regional and local councils. The country, which borders China and Russia, remains under the impact of last year’s protests. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev killed them in many places – also with the help of Russian troops. More than 200 people were killed as a result of the riots. Critics accuse the authoritarian Tokayev of wanting to use early elections to consolidate his own power.
The 69-year-old politician was confirmed in office last November with more than 80 percent in a presidential election that was also brought forward and then called for new parliamentary elections. On the eve of the polls, he launched several reforms and promised a democratization process. But election watchers are critical of deficits in press freedom and free speech. In addition, several opposition parties were banned from participating in the elections.
Obstacle and five percent quota
Independent Kazakh political scientist Dimash Alschanow also accuses the ruling apparatus of barely allowing any competition: in addition to the ruling Amanat party, the other six parties in office are also largely loyal to the government, Alschanow said in an interview with dpa news. agency. “So I think the parliament will continue to consist of about 90 percent of MPs loyal to Tokayev,” he predicted.
However, international election observers are also praising a number of innovations – including lowering the bar to entry from seven percent to five percent and allowing non-partisan candidates. For the first time in nearly 20 years, independent candidates are running for election. Previously, only members of three pro-government parties occupied the Chamber of Deputies. A 30% quota was also introduced for women, young people and people with disabilities. All 98 deputies of Kazakhstan’s lower house (maschilis) are now directly elected by the people.
High police presence
In Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest city that tends to show more support for the opposition, the morning vote was slow, according to the Portal news agency. Police presence on the streets is considered high.
Tokayev, who voted in Astana early in the morning without speaking to the media, said the vote would allow him to start implementing his plan to reform the country and ensure a more equitable distribution of its oil wealth.
Polling stations in the former Soviet republic, which has two time zones, open in the morning and close at 20:00 local time (15:00 and 16:00 CET). According to the AFP news agency, twelve million people have the right to vote.
connection with Russia
Completing the political transition is also expected to strengthen Tokayev’s position in foreign policy. Despite receiving support from Moscow during the 2022 riots, he has refused to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or recognize the annexation of some Ukrainian territories.
At the same time, Astana tries to maintain good relations both with Moscow, its neighbor and main trading partner, and with the West. Inequality and corruption in Central Asia’s largest country also persist, and inflation constrains the purchasing power of its nearly 20 million inhabitants.
In January 2022, protests against high prices and social injustice in the oil-rich country, which borders Russia and China, turned into an unprecedented power struggle between Kazakh elites. Tokayev emerged victorious and overthrew the then still very influential former President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan
Christina Nagel, ARD Moscow, March 19, 2023 1:04 pm