Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Aug 21
Kazakhstan Holds Vote for 145-Seat Parliament as Tokayev Consolidates Power After 2022 Riots
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Aug 21

Kazakhstan Holds Vote for 145-Seat Parliament as Tokayev Consolidates Power After 2022 Riots

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Aug 21

Summary

  • Sunday’s election will choose a new single-chamber parliament in Kazakhstan, with seven parties competing for 145 seats and lawmakers set to serve five-year terms.
  • The vote is the latest step in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s political overhaul after the deadly 2022 unrest he described as an attempted coup.
  • That shake-up has tightened Tokayev’s grip on power while leaving open the prospect that he could extend his rule in Central Asia’s largest energy producer.

Insights

Will Sunday's election truly democratize Kazakhstan, or is it a clever constitutional loophole to extend President Tokayev's rule?
With the old ruling party dissolved, what hidden power dynamics will emerge in Kazakhstan's first unicameral parliament this weekend?
How will the newly formed Kurultai balance sweeping political reforms with Kazakhstan's looming energy crisis and green ambitions?