Pro-Presidential Adilet Party Wins Kazakhstan Parliamentary Election

The pro-presidential Adilet party won more than 71 percent of the vote in Kazakhstan's parliamentary elections, according to the country's electoral commission. The result allows Adilet to secure 111 of the 145 seats in the Kurultai, the nation's new single-chamber parliament. Voter turnout was reported at approximately 74 percent.

Four other parties surpassed the five percent threshold to enter parliament: Auyl, Respublica, Ak Zhol, and the Nationwide Social Democratic Party. The People's Party of Kazakhstan and Baitak failed to enter the legislature. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the victory.

The elections followed the adoption of a new constitution that streamlined the legislature from two chambers into one. Under this new framework, the president retains significant power, including the right to nominate the chairman of the Kurultai and the authority to dissolve parliament if the body refuses to approve presidential appointments. The new constitution also created the office of vice president, whom Tokayev said he would name within seven to 10 days.

Adilet was founded in June of this year and absorbed the previous ruling party, Amanat. While officials state the structural changes aim to give parliament more weight in decision making, center-left sources frame the victory as a consolidation of President Tokayev's power. Tokayev has previously championed a reform program called Just Kazakhstan to move away from the legacy of his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev.