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Kazakh ruling party wins 54% of vote in snap election

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Kazakhstan's ruling Amanat party received 53.9% of votes in a snap parliamentary vote, official data showed on Monday (20 March). This gave President Kassym Jomart Tokayev a mandate to reform the oil-rich country in line with his social justice goals.

Although no opposition parties were represented in Sunday's elections, Western criticism was less severe than usual as Europe and America seek to strengthen relations with Russia's neighbors that have been shaken since Moscow's invasion.

OSCE observers stated that reforms implemented before the vote addressed some of OSCE's previous recommendations and provided "increased choice for voters", but further changes were necessary.

No opposition party was able to register before the election despite a formal relaxation of registration requirements, such as the number and origin of signatures required.

At least one opposition group claimed that the government deliberately denied it registration.

Kazakh officials said that positive and concerning changes were both noted by the OSCE. This was an encouragement for them to strive for greater democracy.

"Such comments also important given the geopolitical backdrop of these elections, and the unprecedented tensions that the region and world have been experiencing since last year," stated the official on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.

The election of the lower chamber completes the shake-up in Central Asia's political elite. It all began with Tokayev's ex-patriot and predecessor Nursultan Nagayev being forced to resign in the early 2021 midst violent unrest.

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Tokayev (69) has pledged since to ensure a fairer distribution of wealth in his large, but sparsely populated country that is rich in minerals and hydrocarbons.

Russia, a major political player in the Central Asian region, and Kazakhstan's largest trading partner, welcomed Tokayev's election results as an endorsement of his economic and political reforms.

Maria Zakharova, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, said: "We reaffirm in principle our commitment to the further strengthening multifaceted Russian-Kazakh cooperation through the parliamentary system."

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