Kazakhstan was voting Sunday in a parliamentary election expected to strengthen President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s grip on power. The pro-presidential Adilet party was widely predicted to win a large majority, and the vote is the first for the new single-chamber Kurultai. The election follows a constitutional overhaul backed by 87 percent of voters in March and comes amid inflation, tax hikes and tighter pressure on media freedom.
A man leaves the polling booth to cast his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Sunday. Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan votes for a new unicameral parliament following changes to its constitution that authorities say will democratise Central Asia's largest economy, but critics slam the move as cementing the president's power. AFP-Yonhap
TALLINN, Estonia — Kazakhstan was voting Sunday in a parliamentary election that is expected to further strengthen President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s grip on power in Central Asia's largest nation .
The pro-presidential Adilet party is widely predicted to win an overwhelming majority, with several smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also anticipated to enter parliament. The vote is the country’s first election to a new, single-chamber parliament called the Kurultai.
