Kazakhs vote for first unicameral parliament

Kazakhstan is holding its parliamentary elections on Sunday, with citizens heading to the polls to elect members of the country's first unicameral legislature, the Kurultai. This historic vote is the tenth parliamentary election since the nation gained independence.

Around 12.6 million voters are eligible to participate in the election. Polling stations opened at 7:00 AM local time and will close at 8:00 PM. The new parliament will consist of 145 seats, with all members elected proportionally based on party lists.

The election features seven political parties fielding a total of 545 candidates. A significant development is the rebranding of the ruling party, formerly known as Nur Otan and later Amanat, which merged with the newly formed Adilet (Justice) party in July. Adilet is widely considered the frontrunner and is projected to secure a constitutional majority.

Experts anticipate that the Adilet party will win decisively, potentially securing two-thirds of the vote. The Aúl party, representing moderate opposition, is expected to come in second. The remaining parties will be vying to surpass the 5% electoral threshold to gain representation in the new parliament.