{"id":2107505,"date":"2026-08-23T08:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T05:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2107505"},"modified":"2026-08-23T08:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T05:54:13","slug":"inequality-corruption-led-to-kazakhstan-unrest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2107505","title":{"rendered":"Inequality, corruption led to Kazakhstan unrest"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/78474328_6.jpg”]<\/p>\n

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https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5JGpK<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Kazakhs are voting in an election that was triggered by the adoption of a new constitution earlier this yearImage: Pavel Mikheyev\/REUTERS<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Kazakhstan’s 12.3 million eligible voters will elect the Central Asian country’s parliament on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The polls come after a new constitution approved in March did away with the Senate to create a new unicameral Kurultai \u2014\u00a0a reference to the medieval councils of the region’s nomadic past.<\/p>\n

Backers of the new body say it will give parliament more say in decision making, critics argue it will only cement the power of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The\u00a073-year-old took the reins from authoritarian Nursultan Nazarbayev<\/a> \u2014 who himself ruled the country for 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union<\/a> \u2014 in 2019.<\/p>\n

\"Kazakhstan
The constitutional reform also opens the door for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power Image: Turar Kazangapov\/REUTERS<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pro-presidential Adilet party is expected to win an overwhelming majority in\u00a0Sunday’s vote, with a number of smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also pegged to enter parliament.<\/p>\n

Seven state-approved parties have been allowed to field candidates for the 145-seat parliament while genuine opposition parties have been banned.<\/p>\n

The election is taking place amid soaring inflation (which is hovering around 10.2%) and rising taxes, fueling concerns for the government \u2014\u00a0and particularly Tokayev \u2014 of a repeat of January 2022 cost of living unrest<\/a> that left 238 protesters and police dead<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Inequality, corruption led to Kazakhstan unrest<\/h2>\n

Press crackdown and financial strain color Kazakhstan’s election<\/h2>\n

Beyond financial strain, Sunday’s vote is also taking place against the background of crackdowns on press freedom<\/a>, with numerous reporters\u00a0under house arrest and official criminal cases being brought against 10 independent journalists and bloggers.<\/p>\n

Tokayev, a\u00a0former Soviet official and Kazakh diplomat who worked at the UN, has touted his reforms and justified the many changes he has initiated \u2014 including the introduction of the new constitution \u2014 as necessary in a fast-changing world.<\/p>\n

“Without a doubt, these elections will be remembered as perhaps the most interesting in our country’s history,” said Tokayev on Friday.<\/p>\n

“Amid unprecedented geopolitical tensions and mounting global challenges, we must firmly and consistently implement our strategy to transform Kazakhstan into a truly developed state,” he added.<\/p>\n

Tokayev has sought to maintain a delicate balance<\/a> between Moscow \u2014 with their shared Soviet ties \u2014 and the West<\/a> since sanctions were imposed<\/a> on Russia<\/a> over its invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. Resource-rich and strategically located Kazakhstan<\/a> also has ties to China<\/a> and the European Union<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although Tokayev has said that he has no plans of staying in power beyond his current term, the constitutional reform that 87% of voters backed<\/a> this March effectively reset term limits for the office \u2014\u00a0making him eligible to run for another seven-year stint in 2029 should he change his mind.<\/p>\n

\n

How can Kazakhstan navigate ties with Russia and China?<\/h2>\n

Edited by: Natalie Muller<\/em><\/p>\n

If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to <\/em>select us as your Preferred Source on Google<\/a>, so you’ll always see our verified news first.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

\n

Kazakhstan’s 12.3 million eligible voters will elect the Central Asian country’s parliament on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The polls come after a new constitution approved in March did away with the Senate to create a new unicameral Kurultai \u2014\u00a0a reference to the medieval councils of the region’s nomadic past.<\/p>\n

Backers of the new body say it will give parliament more say in decision making, critics argue it will only cement the power of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The\u00a073-year-old took the reins from authoritarian Nursultan Nazarbayev<\/a> \u2014 who himself ruled the country for 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union<\/a> \u2014 in 2019.<\/p>\n

\"Kazakhstan
The constitutional reform also opens the door for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power Image: Turar Kazangapov\/REUTERS<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pro-presidential Adilet party is expected to win an overwhelming majority in\u00a0Sunday’s vote, with a number of smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also pegged to enter parliament.<\/p>\n

Seven state-approved parties have been allowed to field candidates for the 145-seat parliament while genuine opposition parties have been banned.<\/p>\n

The election is taking place amid soaring inflation (which is hovering around 10.2%) and rising taxes, fueling concerns for the government \u2014\u00a0and particularly Tokayev \u2014 of a repeat of January 2022 cost of living unrest<\/a> that left 238 protesters and police dead<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Inequality, corruption led to Kazakhstan unrest<\/h2>\n

Press crackdown and financial strain color Kazakhstan’s election<\/h2>\n

Beyond financial strain, Sunday’s vote is also taking place against the background of crackdowns on press freedom<\/a>, with numerous reporters\u00a0under house arrest and official criminal cases being brought against 10 independent journalists and bloggers.<\/p>\n

Tokayev, a\u00a0former Soviet official and Kazakh diplomat who worked at the UN, has touted his reforms and justified the many changes he has initiated \u2014 including the introduction of the new constitution \u2014 as necessary in a fast-changing world.<\/p>\n

“Without a doubt, these elections will be remembered as perhaps the most interesting in our country’s history,” said Tokayev on Friday.<\/p>\n

“Amid unprecedented geopolitical tensions and mounting global challenges, we must firmly and consistently implement our strategy to transform Kazakhstan into a truly developed state,” he added.<\/p>\n

Tokayev has sought to maintain a delicate balance<\/a> between Moscow \u2014 with their shared Soviet ties \u2014 and the West<\/a> since sanctions were imposed<\/a> on Russia<\/a> over its invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. Resource-rich and strategically located Kazakhstan<\/a> also has ties to China<\/a> and the European Union<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although Tokayev has said that he has no plans of staying in power beyond his current term, the constitutional reform that 87% of voters backed<\/a> this March effectively reset term limits for the office \u2014\u00a0making him eligible to run for another seven-year stint in 2029 should he change his mind.<\/p>\n

\n

How can Kazakhstan navigate ties with Russia and China?<\/h2>\n

Edited by: Natalie Muller<\/em><\/p>\n

If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to <\/em>select us as your Preferred Source on Google<\/a>, so you’ll always see our verified news first.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Kazakhstan’s 12.3 million eligible voters will elect the Central Asian country’s parliament on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The polls come after a new constitution approved in March did away with the Senate to create a new unicameral Kurultai \u2014\u00a0a reference to the medieval councils of the region’s nomadic past.<\/p>\n

Backers of the new body say it will give parliament more say in decision making, critics argue it will only cement the power of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The\u00a073-year-old took the reins from authoritarian Nursultan Nazarbayev<\/a> \u2014 who himself ruled the country for 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union<\/a> \u2014 in 2019.<\/p>\n

The pro-presidential Adilet party is expected to win an overwhelming majority in\u00a0Sunday’s vote, with a number of smaller parties loyal to Tokayev also pegged to enter parliament.<\/p>\n

Seven state-approved parties have been allowed to field candidates for the 145-seat parliament while genuine opposition parties have been banned.<\/p>\n

The election is taking place amid soaring inflation (which is hovering around 10.2%) and rising taxes, fueling concerns for the government \u2014\u00a0and particularly Tokayev \u2014 of a repeat of January 2022 cost of living unrest<\/a> that left 238 protesters and police dead<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

Beyond financial strain, Sunday’s vote is also taking place against the background of crackdowns on press freedom<\/a>, with numerous reporters\u00a0under house arrest and official criminal cases being brought against 10 independent journalists and bloggers.<\/p>\n

Tokayev, a\u00a0former Soviet official and Kazakh diplomat who worked at the UN, has touted his reforms and justified the many changes he has initiated \u2014 including the introduction of the new constitution \u2014 as necessary in a fast-changing world.<\/p>\n

“Without a doubt, these elections will be remembered as perhaps the most interesting in our country’s history,” said Tokayev on Friday.<\/p>\n

“Amid unprecedented geopolitical tensions and mounting global challenges, we must firmly and consistently implement our strategy to transform Kazakhstan into a truly developed state,” he added.<\/p>\n

Tokayev has sought to maintain a delicate balance<\/a> between Moscow \u2014 with their shared Soviet ties \u2014 and the West<\/a> since sanctions were imposed<\/a> on Russia<\/a> over its invasion of Ukraine<\/a>. Resource-rich and strategically located Kazakhstan<\/a> also has ties to China<\/a> and the European Union<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although Tokayev has said that he has no plans of staying in power beyond his current term, the constitutional reform that 87% of voters backed<\/a> this March effectively reset term limits for the office \u2014\u00a0making him eligible to run for another seven-year stint in 2029 should he change his mind.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

Edited by: Natalie Muller<\/em><\/p>\n

If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to <\/em>select us as your Preferred Source on Google<\/a>, so you’ll always see our verified news first.<\/em><\/p>\n

[analyse_source url=”https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/kazakhstan-parliamentary-vote-to-cement-presidents-power\/a-78474598″]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/78474328_6.jpg”] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5JGpK Kazakhs are voting in an election that was triggered by the adoption of a new constitution earlier this yearImage: Pavel Mikheyev\/REUTERS Kazakhstan’s 12.3 million eligible voters will elect the Central Asian country’s parliament on Sunday. The polls come after a new constitution approved in March did away with the Senate to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-2107505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2107505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2107505"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2107505\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2107505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2107505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2107505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}