Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has secured a second time period in a snap election, successful 81.3 p.c of the vote.
The Central Asian nation’s Central Election Fee made the announcement on Monday citing preliminary knowledge.
Tokayev had been extensively anticipated to increase his rule over the oil-rich nation by seven extra years with a powerful mandate to proceed his more and more unbiased international coverage, as the previous Soviet republic navigates the Russia-Ukraine disaster.
“We will say that the individuals have expressed convincing confidence in me as president and all of you,” Tokayev, 69, advised his employees earlier, referring to exit polls that favoured him.
The marketing campaign would “go down in historical past”, the previous diplomat added.
Tokayev confronted no actual opposition candidates in a nation the place critics are sidelined and all 5 of his opponents have been just about unknown.
Voter turnout was 69.4 p.c, with 5 different candidates scoring within the low single digits, knowledge confirmed. Voters’ second hottest alternative was “in opposition to everybody” with 5.8 p.c of ballots.
Prompted by the exit polls, a number of fellow Central Asian leaders congratulated Tokayev on Monday earlier than the preliminary outcomes.
Tokayev received his first election in 2019 with the backing of his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, however the two fell out this yr amid violent unrest within the nation of 20 million. Sunday’s vote consolidated his energy as an unbiased chief.
In lower than a yr, Tokayev suppressed the worst anti-government demonstrations in his nation’s historical past, neutralised his omnipotent predecessor, and stood as much as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
When he took over, he was anticipated to control within the shadow and on the behest of his predecessor and mentor: Nazarbayev, who had dominated since 1991.
Nazarbayev retained the title of “Elbasy” – “head of the nation” within the Kazakh language.
This gave him big affect over politics and his clan retained management over the energy-rich nation’s financial system.
‘Shoot to kill’
For 2-and-a-half years, Tokayev – a gradual hand identified for missing charisma – performed the position of a loyal successor. That modified in January.
Protests broke out throughout the huge nation that become violent unrest and centred on Kazakhstan’s financial centre, Almaty.
Tokayev confirmed a ruthless aspect, ordering legislation enforcement to “shoot to kill” demonstrators. He additionally minimize off communication with the skin world and referred to as on Moscow to ship troops to assist.
The deployment of Moscow-led “peacekeeping” forces suppressed the rebellion, which some observers believed may need caused Tokayev’s fall. The chaos ended with 238 lifeless in 9 days.
Decided to cement his authority, Tokayev promptly advised Putin that Russian troopers should depart. And in a shock transfer, he broke along with his mentor Nazarbayev, purging his household from positions of authority and promising a “new and simply Kazakhstan”.
The octogenarian ex-leader was disadvantaged of his powers, some relations have been imprisoned, and he was compelled to publicly swear allegiance to Tokayev.
Within the course of, the brand new chief introduced reforms, a constitutional referendum, and launched single presidential phrases of seven years, triggering an early poll on November 20.
In a remaining nail pushed into the coffin of the Nazarbayev period, the capital metropolis – renamed within the dictator’s honour in 2019 – regained its title of Astana in September this yr.
Regardless of Tokayev purging Nazarbayev, the overhaul represents the liberalisation of an authoritarian state.
Ukraine considerations
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has reawakened Kazakh considerations that Moscow could have ambitions on the north of the nation, house to about three million ethnic Russians.
Kazakhstan and Russia share a 7,500km-long (about 4,660 miles) border.
Tokayev publicly clashed with Putin on a go to to St Petersburg in June, criticising Moscow’s transfer to recognise Ukrainian separatist areas that it has since claimed to have annexed.
Sitting subsequent to the Kremlin chief, Tokayev mentioned recognising separatist authorities world wide would “result in chaos”.
4 months later, when Putin introduced the mobilisation of tens of 1000’s of reservists, Tokayev opened the borders and welcomed a flood of Russians fleeing the military.
He referred to as on Kazakhs to “handle them and guarantee their safety”.