Kazakhstan’s ruling Nur Otan Party is leading in the election to Majilis – the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament – with 71.97% of votes, according to exit poll results announced at midnight on 11 January by the head of the Qogamdyq Pikir (Public Opinion) Research Institute Ainur Mazhitova, writes Assel Satubaldina.
The Ak Zhol Democratic Party was reported to have claimed 10.18% of the votes.
The People’s Party of Kazakhstan, the former Communist People’s party, gained 9.03% of the vote.
The Auyl People’s Democratic Patriotic Party received 5.75% of votes, and the Adal party – 3.07% of votes.
Mazhitova said that polls were carried out at 600 polling stations, of which 316 were in cities and 284 in rural areas reaching 24,000 citizens.
More than 10,000 polling stations were opened in 14 regions and three cities of national significance – Nur-Sultan, Almaty and Shymkent. Polling stations were open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. without breaks.
312 candidates from five parties competed for seats in the Majilis. 19 from the Auyl People’s Democratic Patriotic Party, 126 from the Nur Otan Party, 16 from the Adal political party, 38 from the Ak Zhol Democratic Party and 113 from the People’s Party of Kazakhstan.
The early official results are expected to be announced by Kazakhstan’s Central Electoral Commission in the afternoon on 11 January.
