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Kazakhstan votes in parliamentary election following constitutional overhaul

Exit polls indicate an overwhelming win for the ruling party in elections for the newly formed unicameral legislature amid an ongoing media crackdown.

Updated Aug 24, 2026 · 02:15 UTC5 reports

The short version

  • Kazakhstan held elections on Sunday to fill all 145 seats of its new unicameral parliament, the Kurultai, following a constitutional revamp.
  • State television exit polls reported the ruling Adilet party won over 70% of the vote, with genuine opposition parties and independent candidates barred from participating.
  • The restructured political framework expands presidential authority and resets term limits, enabling President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to potentially run again in 2029.
  • Official final election results and the subsequent formation of the single-chamber legislature remain the next milestones.

Key facts

  • Kazakhstan held its first election for the new 145-seat single-chamber parliament, the Kurultai, following a March referendum where 87% of voters supported constitutional amendments.[Deutsche Welle · Associated Press · Deutsche Welle]
  • Exit polls reported by state television indicated the ruling Adilet party received between 70% and 72% of the vote.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Only seven state-approved parties were permitted to field candidates via party lists, while genuine opposition parties were banned and independent candidates were prohibited.[Deutsche Welle · Deutsche Welle]
  • Kazakhstan's Constitutional Court ruled that the structural reforms reset term limits, granting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev eligibility to seek an additional seven-year term in 2029.[Deutsche Welle · Associated Press]
  • The vote occurred amid economic pressure, including roughly 10.2% inflation and tax increases, alongside criminal cases opened against approximately 10 independent journalists and bloggers.[Deutsche Welle · Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether President Tokayev intends to campaign for another seven-year presidential term in 2029 remains unconfirmed, despite the court ruling enabling him to do so.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Final, certified vote counts and specific seat allocations across the admitted parties have not yet been released beyond initial state television exit poll projections.[Deutsche Welle]

Sources