The early election must allow the current president, Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev, to consolidate his power, after a dark year marked by bloody riots
Mo12345lemonde with AFP
Kazakhstan votes Sunday, November 20 during an early presidential election, which should allow the outgoing leader, Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev, to consolidate his power, after a dark year marked by bloody riots and by a merciless clan struggle .
The polling stations of the largest country in Central Asia opened at 2 o’clock (hours in Paris), for almost twelve million voters, and will close at 4 p.m., while the first surveys of the ballot box are expected around 6 p.m.
bloody riots in January 2>
Ex-Soviet republic rich in natural resources and located at the crossroads of important commercial roads, Kazakhstan plunged in chaos in January when demonstrations against expensive life degenerate into riots, before being brutally repressed, making 238 dead. The country remains traumatized by this crisis and, a sign that the tensions persist, the authorities announced Thursday that they have arrested seven supporters of an opponent in exile, accused of fomenting a “coup”.
cut The cord with Nazarbaïev
m. Tokaïev, who voted early in the capital, Astana, should not be renewed for the next seven years. He faces five almost unknown candidates. It remains to be seen whether it will harvest more than 71 % of the votes, as in 2019, a score without appeal, but far from the 98 % obtained by its predecessor, Noursoultan Nazarbaïev, in 2015.
This ballot aims to turn the page of a difficult year, but also to devote the reign of President Tokaïev, 69, who has been trying for months to reduce the influence of the clan of his powerful predecessor and mentor, Noursoultan Nazarbaïev, in power for three decades. Arrived in power in 2019 after the surprise resignation of the Nazarbaïev omnipotent, Mr. Tokaïev officially undertook to cut the cord in favor of the January crisis after having long been considered the henchman of his predecessor.
Critique of OSCE observers
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has shocked the former Soviet republics, Mr. Tokaïev has been trying to tighten links with China, but also with Europe, to counterweight to the ‘Russian influence. In recent months, he has been visited by Russian, Turkish, Chinese heads of state, as well as senior European officials, and even Pope Francis.
International electoral observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) regretted in a report that their recommendations “relating to fundamental freedoms and the conditions of eligibility and registration of candidates” are ” remained without follow -up “. In Astana and Almaty, the two largest cities in the country, the France-Presse agency has seen several voters take a picture of itself in front of the polling stations, a number of voters invoking the “obligation” to show the photo on Monday on their workplace.