Ruling Adilet Party Sweeps Kazakh Parliamentary Elections

Kazakhstan's newly established ruling Adilet party secured a dominant lead in Sunday's parliamentary elections, capturing over 70 percent of the vote, according to early exit polls released on August 24, 2026. The snap election marks the Central Asian nation's first legislative vote under a revamped constitution that established a single-chamber parliament known as the Kurultai.

Exit polling conducted by state television and the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development projected Adilet to win approximately 105 to 109 seats in the new 145-member legislature. Adilet, formed in April after absorbing the long-ruling Amanat party, anchored a field of seven state-approved political entities competing under a full party-list system where independent candidates were excluded.

Addressing voters after preliminary polling results were published, Aibek Dadеbay, chairman of the Adilet Party, highlighted the campaign's outreach effort.

"During the election campaign, we visited all regions and met with thousands of people across the country. At every meeting, we heard directly about the issues that matter to people, as well as their views and suggestions. Every opinion matters to us. All the proposals we received will be taken into account in our future work," Dadеbay said.

Four additional parties met the five percent electoral threshold required to enter the Kurultai, according to poll data. The agrarian Auyl party secured 6.2 percent, followed by Respublica at 5.2 percent, Ak Zhol at 5.1 percent, and the Nationwide Social Democratic Party at 5 percent. The People's Party of Kazakhstan and the Baitaq Green Party failed to clear the threshold.

Analyst Indira Aubakirova, head of the Institute of Legislation and Legal Information, offered insight into the performance of the competing political factions.

"The People’s Party of Kazakhstan, to my surprise, received around 3%. There could be several factors behind this. Firstly, the new generation is entering political life, and it no longer shares these views. At the same time, the natural decline of the older population is also having an impact, meaning that there are fewer," she said.

Comparing the business-focused parties, Aubakirova noted performance differences between established and newer entities.

"It would seem that Aq Zhol has such a rich background. It has been on the political scene since 2002. But Respublica is a much younger party, launched in 2023, and it positioned itself very correctly and built its election campaign in a very competent way," she added.

The election follows a major constitutional referendum in March that abolished the former bicameral system, consolidated legislative authority, and reset term limits for 73-year-old President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, enabling a potential run in 2029. Central Election Commission officials reported voter turnout at 74 percent out of roughly 12 million registered voters.

Prior to the vote, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the significance of the political transition.

"Without a doubt, these elections will be remembered as perhaps the most interesting in our country’s history," Tokayev said.

He noted the broader global environment surrounding the vote.

"Amid unprecedented geopolitical tensions and mounting global challenges, we must firmly and consistently implement our strategy to transform Kazakhstan into a truly developed state," Tokayev added.

President Tokayev also announced plans to appoint the country's first vice president within 10 days and outlined infrastructure projects following the vote.

"I am confident that the work of the Kazakhstan People’s Council will be productive. The country should turn into a major construction site. Large construction projects will be implemented in every regional centre, district and city. Polyclinics, children’s rehabilitation centres and other social facilities will be built," Tokayev said.

He further elaborated on upcoming capital city development.

"In Astana will appear such important facilities as a new bridge, the Dombra Palace and the Water Resources Research Centre. All cities need to be improved," he added.

The vote took place amid economic pressures, including 10.2 percent inflation recorded in February, and heightened scrutiny from media freedom organizations. Independent journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov, currently facing criminal charges over his reporting, provided perspective on the media environment during the campaign.

"In the run-up to these parliamentary elections, repression has intensified sharply, with attacks on independent media, cyberattacks, and criminal cases launched against independent journalists and popular bloggers," Akhmedyarov said.

He expressed concern regarding state pressure on non-aligned media organizations.

"It feels like the authorities want to silence all media outlets they don’t control — everyone they couldn’t reach an agreement with or couldn’t buy off," he added.

Commenting on the visible presence of the dominant party across urban centers, Akhmedyarov pointed to the high visibility of campaign material.

"It is not very difficult to predict the outcome of these elections," he said.