Ruling party likely to sweep Kazakh parliamentary election

The completion of political transition is also likely to strengthen Mr. Tokayev's hand in foreign policy.

Kazakhstan votes in a snap parliamentary election on Sunday widely expected to cement President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's grip on power and complete a reshuffle of the ruling elite that began after he fully assumed leadership last year.

A stronger mandate will help Mr. Tokayev navigate through regional turmoil caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent damage to trade, investment and supply chains throughout the former Soviet Union.

Although he formally became president in 2019, Mr. Tokayev, 69, had remained in the shadow of his predecessor and former patron Nursultan Nazarbayev until January 2022, when the two fell out amid an attempted coup and violent unrest.

Mr. Tokayev sidelined Mr. Nazarbayev, after suppressing the political unrest in the oil-rich Central Asian country and had a number of his associates removed from senior positions in the public sector, some of whom later faced corruption charges.

While Mr. Tokayev has reshuffled the government, the lower house of parliament - elected when Mr. Nazarbayev still had sweeping powers and led the ruling Nur Otan party - was not due for election until 2026, and the president called a snap vote.

Unlike Mr. Nazarbayev, Mr. Tokayev has chosen not to lead the ruling party, rebranded Amanat, but polls show it is likely to retain a comfortable majority and form the core of his support base in the legislature, especially in the absence of strong opposition parties on the ballot.

However, for the first time in almost two decades, several opposition figures are running as independents, a move which may allow some government critics to win a limited number of seats.