Kazakhstan’s ruling party wins election
Early parliamentary elections were held on Sunday in Kazakhstan, resulting in to a clear victory of President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s ruling party with 81 percent of the votes. The Central Election Commission stated that voters were particularly active this year, with no less than 77 percent of eligible citizens participating.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, on December 1991, no elections in Kazakhstan have been recognized as “fair” and “free” by Western countries or international observers.
Correspondents of Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe reported that in some regions of the country cases of ballot box stuffing and family voting had been observed.
The pro-presidential party "Nur Otan" will have the majority of seats in the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament.
According to the polls, the party "Ak Zhol" takes second place obtaining a little more than 7 percent of voters. The third place, the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan, obtained just more than 7 percent as well.
Agrarians obtained two percent, Opposition Social-Democrats 1.2 percent, and the Ecological party "Birlik" took last place failing to obtain even half of a percent.