Tokayev announces early presidential election in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s interim president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called a snap presidential election, citing the need to eliminate political uncertainty in the republic.

In a televised address to the nation, Tokayev said he had consulted with first president Nursultan Nazarbayev - known as "Elbasy" or "Leader of the Nation" in Kazakh - and other top officials before making the decision.

"The decision to hold early election is important and necessary. I have decided to hold presidential elections on June 9," the president said.

According to Tokayev, they must continue to work on the implementation of Nazarbayev's strategy.

"This can be done only by the direct expression of the will of the people... As the acting head of state I guarantee that the elections will be held honestly, openly and fairly," Tokayev stressed.

The head of the Central Asia and Kazakhstan Department of the CIS Institute, Andrei Grozin, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the early presidential election was expected in Kazakhstan soon after Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned. "The authorities did not intend to leave the country in a hover for almost a year. In accordance with the Kazakh legislation, the election is held no later than two months after its official announcement, that is, today is a deadline for the June 9 election and, at the same time, the start of the election campaign," he said.

Andrei Grozin noted that there is a version that Nursultan Nazarbayev may take part in the election. "As the leader of the nation, he has a right to take part in elections as often as he wants. The version sounds quite exotic so far, but two weeks ago several Kazakh colleagues said that Nazarbayev could return. I think it's unlikely, because after he stepped down as president, he rose above the entire state system, while retaining control over it. Most likely, a person who will take the main blows of criticism will be nominated for the presidency," the expert stated.

"Essentially, the only intrigue is who will be nominated by the Nur Otan party. Based on the current situation, it seems that this it be Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev. Now we have to wait for the official gathering of the Nur Otan party's political bureau, It is possible that the decision will be made, and by the end of the week it will be clear who will be the ruling party's nominee, that is, the official successor and the most likely second president of Kazakhstan in accordance with the electoral procedures," Andrei Grozin concluded.