Kazakhstan’s Ruling Adilet Party Wins Landslide Victory With 71% of Vote

ASTANA, Aug 24: Kazakhstan’s ruling Adilet party has secured a landslide victory in the country’s first election to the newly established 145-member Kurultai, winning 71.17% of the vote, according to preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission on Monday.

Adilet, a newly established pro-government party that absorbed the former ruling Amanat party, secured a commanding lead over the six other parties that contested the August 23 election. The result is expected to further strengthen President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s political position.

The Auyl party finished second with 6.26%, followed by Respublika with 5.56%, Ak Zhol with 5.21% and the Nationwide Social Democratic Party with 5.11%. The People’s Party of Kazakhstan received 3.11%, while the Green Party Baytak secured 1.07%. A further 2.51% of voters selected the “against all” option.

The Central Election Commission said 9,351,539 citizens cast ballots, putting preliminary turnout at 74.08%. Five parties cleared the 5% threshold required to enter the new legislature.

The election marked the first vote for the Kurultai, Kazakhstan’s new unicameral parliament created under a constitutional system that took effect on July 1. The new legislature has 145 seats, with all deputies elected through proportional representation from party lists in a single nationwide constituency.

The previous bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Senate and Mazhilis, ceased to operate after the new Constitution came into force. The Kurultai’s formation is part of a broader political restructuring approved through constitutional reforms earlier this year.

During the campaign, Adilet highlighted state reform, economic development, digitalisation, education, regional development and social protection among its main priorities.

The overwhelming result gives the pro-presidential camp a dominant position in the new legislature. Reuters reported that the four other parties that cleared the electoral threshold are generally supportive of Tokayev’s administration despite being described as opposition parties.

The election was held against the backdrop of a major political transition in Kazakhstan, as Tokayev’s government seeks to reshape the country’s political system following the adoption of the new Constitution. The changes have also expanded the president’s powers and introduced a vice-presidential position.

The preliminary results are expected to translate the overwhelming vote for Adilet into a commanding share of seats in the new 145-member Kurultai once the final allocation is completed.