OSCE says Kazakhstan's first Kurultai elections lacked pluralism
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Kazakhstan held its first elections to the new unicameral Kurultai parliament on August 23, with the pro-presidential Adilet party winning 71.17% of the vote on 74.19% turnout. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said the elections lacked political pluralism and reported significant procedural violations during the vote count.
Key Facts
- Adilet party won 71.17% of the vote in Kazakhstan's first Kurultai elections on August 23.
- Official turnout was reported at 74.19% by the Central Election Commission.
- OSCE/ODIHR observers said actual turnout appeared significantly lower than the official figure.
- At eight of 119 polling stations observed during counting, the number of ballots exceeded the number of recorded voters.
- All seven parties contesting the election supported incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Election Results
Kazakhstan held its first elections to the Kurultai, the country's new unicameral parliament, on August 23. The Adilet party, established last spring as a political support base for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, won 71.17% of the vote according to preliminary results from the Central Election Commission. Turnout was reported at 74.19%. Tokayev said the election had been organized at an "unprecedentedly high level" and praised the Central Election Commission for introducing new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
OSCE Criticism
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said the elections lacked political pluralism. All seven parties contesting the election supported the incumbent president, while independent candidates were not allowed to run. Observers noted Adilet's overwhelming institutional advantage, as the party inherited the infrastructure, staff, political connections and organizational resources of Amanat, the former ruling party, after the two organizations merged. According to the OSCE/ODIHR, this created an "undue advantage" and blurred the line between the state and the ruling political organization.
Vote Count Irregularities
OSCE/ODIHR observers who independently recorded the number of registered and participating voters at polling stations said the actual turnout appeared to be significantly lower than the official 74.19%. In 6% of the polling stations visited, voters were seen photographing their ballots, with some saying they needed the photographs to report to their employers. Of 119 polling stations observed during counting, 40 received negative assessments because of significant procedural violations. At eight stations, the number of ballots in the ballot boxes exceeded the number of voters recorded as having participated. Observers also reported that protocols had been signed in advance at four stations, were not publicly displayed at 37 stations, and were not provided to observers at another 32.
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OSCE says Kazakhstan's first Kurultai elections lacked pluralism
