[IraqiNews] Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was as expected re-elected as leader of Central Asia’s largest country in a landslide, months after deadly unrest, according to preliminary results released on Monday.The 69-year-old, who came to power in 2019, received 81.31 percent of the vote, said the oil-rich nation’s electoral commission. Final results were due to be announced within a week, after the tally of votes from abroad.
The result was expected, as Tokayev’s five opponents were little known. None of them scored double digits in the vote, while 5.8 percent of voters cast their ballot against all candidates.
The electoral commission gave an estimated turnout of just over 69 percent among the 12 million eligible voters.
"The people have clearly expressed their confidence in me and we have to justify it," Tokayev said as the results emerged.
Rich in natural resources and located at the crossroads of important trade routes, Kazakhstan sank into chaos during protests over high living costs in January, which left 238 dead.
Tokayev — once a steady hand, if generally considered lacking charisma — showed a ruthless side earlier this year by
While Kazakhstan has since stabilised, tensions persist, as shown by the arrest last week of seven opposition supporters accused of an attempted coup.