Kazakhstan's 12.3 million eligible voters will elect the Central Asian country's parliament on Sunday.
The polls come after a new constitution approved in March did away with the Senate to create a new unicameral Kurultai — a reference to the medieval councils of the region's nomadic past.
Backers of the new body say it will give parliament more say in decision making, critics argue it will only cement the power of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The 73-year-old took the reins from authoritarian Nursultan Nazarbayev — who himself ruled the country for 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union — in 2019.The constitutional reform also opens the door for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power Image: Turar Kazangapov/REUTERS
The pro-presidential Adilet party is expected to win an overwhelming majority in Sunday's vote, with a number of smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also pegged to enter parliament.
