Kazakhstan: Ruling Party nominates Tokayev for Presidency

The ruling Nur Otan Party of Kazakhstan has nominated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as its new candidate for a sudden Presidential vote to be held in June as he was backed by the founding leader of the country Nursultan Nazarbayev, thereby setting the way for a smooth power transfer in the Central Asian nation. The candidacy of Tokayev has been backed by about 600 delegates of the ruling party all of whom is very loyal to the 78-year-old Nazarbayev.
Nazarbayev had surprised the whole country by suddenly submitting his resignation last month and then had proposed the name of Tokayev as the interim leader at the upcoming polls.
Sixty-five-year-old Tokayev is all set to win the vote in June thus marking a rare power transfer in the post-Soviet Central Asian country where the leaders often hold office till they die. The transition will reassure all the foreign investors of the country who have put money into the energy sector but will definitely annoy all those people who are looking forward to democratic reforms in the authoritarian state.
In one of the conferences at the capital Nur Sultan, Nazarbayev stated, “I ask everyone to support his candidacy. I am sure he will be a worthy leader. People need stability and confidence in tomorrow. I will continue to work in the interests of the people of Kazakhstan.”Tokayev after taking on his acting role also made the announcement of the snap elections.
Nazarbayev will continue to remain as the lifelong chair of the most powerful security council of Kazakhstan. As per Kazakhstan’s Constitution, he is declared as the “Elbasy” or the “Leader of the Nation”. Recent weeks has seen the growth of the public profile of Tokayev. Tokayev also visited Moscow for holding talks with the Russian President Vladimir Putin who is a close ally of Nazarbayev in addition to Uzbekistan, a notable regional power.
The country is faced with a mood of brewing protests while it is preparing for an uncompetitive vote in the country which is faced with deep inequalities and divisions. Many people have taken to streets to raise anti-governmental slogans a few days since Tokayev has taken up the Presidency from the post of the Senate speaker. The victory of the candidate of the ruling party is seen as inevitable by all.