2022 Kazakh presidential election

2022 Kazakh presidential election

20 November 2022 (2022-11-20)

File:Жигули Дайрабаев.jpg Nominee Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Jiguli Dairabaev Qaraqat Äbden Party Independent Auyl Alliance People's Coalition KÄQŪA   Nominee Nurlan Auesbaev Meiram Qajyken Saltanat Tursynbekova Party JSDP AKD Alliance QA–DJ

Incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Independent

Snap presidential elections are set to be held in Kazakhstan on 20 November 2022 to elect the President of Kazakhstan. This will be the seventh presidential election held since Kazakhstan's independence in 1991 and a sixth consecutive snap election since 1999.

Originally scheduled for December 2024, President Tokayev during his annual State of the Nation Address held in September 2022 following the January unrest and the subsequent constitutional referendum called for snap presidential elections to be held in autumn of this year as well as increasing the presidential term to a nonrenewable seven-year term via constitutional amendment after the vote. From there, Tokayev also announced his intention to initially run for reelection in a second five-year term. However, this led to confusion and legality of Tokayev's proposals regarding his term of office with speculations that it would allow him serve more than two terms as president and as a result, Tokayev on 12 September appealed to the Constitutional Council with his proposed seven-year presidential term law drafted by the ruling Amanat party legislators to be instead adopted prior elections and set his second term to become essentially a final one. On 13 September, the Constitutional Council in a decision ruled in favour of Tokayev's request, and with the Parliament's ratification, the proposed amendments on 17 September were signed into law by Tokayev. He then set the election date through a presidential decree on 21 September.

A total of 12 candidates were nominated for presidency with Tokayev being supported by the People's Coalition, an electoral alliance formed by the pro-government political parties of Amanat, Aq Jol Democratic Party, and the People's Party of Kazakhstan, as well as various public associations. Nūrjan Ältaev, former Amanat MP loyalist and a member of the divided Coalition of Democratic Forces, was barred from running as an opposition candidate after being found in falsifying the protocol of his presidential nomination by the Mũqalmas public association, thus leaving Nurlan Auesbaev from the Nationwide Social Democratic Party (which for the first time contested a presidential race) to become the sole opposition challenger to Tokayev.

Background

Main articles: 2019 Kazakh presidential election, Presidency of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and 2018–2020 Kazakh protests

The previous presidential elections were held in 2019, which saw then-acting president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev being officially elected as the second president of Kazakhstan. During that time, President Tokayev, according to numerous political commentators and observers, was considered to be a staunch Nazarbayev loyalist with an intent of ensuring a political succession in eventually transferring power to Nazarbayev's eldest daughter, Dariga Nazarbayeva, who was subsequently appointed as the Chairwoman of the Kazakh Senate, the highest-ranking order within a presidential line of succession, following Nazarbayev's resignation in March 2019 after a series of pro-democracy protests. Nazarbayev continued to be viewed as the de facto leader of Kazakhstan due to his lifetime chairmanship of the Security Council as well as carrying a constitutional title of "Elbasy" ("leader of the nation"), which allowed him to retain many of the post-presidential executive powers and influence over the government.

However, Tokayev eventually began to exert his own political influence beginning in 2020 with the dismissal of Dariga from her Senatorial post. He also headed the chairmanship of Assembly of People, and later the ruling Amanat party, which were previously held by Nazarbayev himself. Despite Tokayev's increased self-powers contradictory to Nazarbayev's, his presidency was criticised to be lacking and falling short of international and democratic standards and would bring about overall little change to Kazakhstan.

2021 legislative elections

Main articles: 2021 Kazakh legislative election and 7th Parliament of Kazakhstan

Legislative elections to the Mazhilis were held in January 2021 for the first time under Tokayev's presidency where several laws prior to the voting were adopted in an attempt to develop a multi-party system in Kazakhstan which were: reducing a political party membership threshold for registration, formation of a parliamentary opposition, and establishing a mandatory 30% woman and youth quota within the party list, although no political parties were registered in result, thus, leaving only six registered total parties to compete in the legislative elections with the only qualified opposition Nationwide Social Democratic Party boycotting the vote.

In spite of President Tokayev's prior pledges for a multi-party system and expressing hopes for different parties to enter the Parliament, the composition of the newly elected 7th Parliament virtually remained same contrary to 2016 with the ruling Nur Otan party still retaining its supermajority control of the lower house Mazhilis with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe criticising the vote as being uncompetitive with lack of genuine choice. The 2016 legislative elections also saw return of Nazarbayeva as a Mazhilis MP, which fueled speculations once again regarding Nazarbayev's post-presidential influence and political succession. As the 7th Parliament convened on 15 January, Tokayev in a given speech unveiled a third package of reforms which were aimed at furthering the development of the Kazakh political system and enhancing the mechanisms of the protection of human rights.

2021 municipal elections

Main article: 2021 Kazakh municipal elections

During the 2020 State of the Nation Address, President Tokayev proposed for äkims (local leaders) of rural municipalities to be elected directly first time within the following year. To do so, Tokayev signed a presidential decree on 14 September 2020 to implement his proposals in setting the stage for direct elections. In early 2021, the Parliament passed a series of bills that allowed for independent and nominated candidates to run for municipal elections, upon which were subsequently signed by Tokayev into law.

With a total of 2,297 candidates vying for posts, 730 rural äkims were elected in a July 2021 general vote, upon which an overwhelming of them were Nur Otan members, while an issue of registering self-nominated candidates to be included in the ballots were reported by local observers, in which The Diplomat described the municipal elections as "another instance of cosmetic reform made in the name of Tokayev’s 'listening state'".

Post-pandemic recovery and growing social discontent

Main articles: COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan, COVID-19 recession, and 2021–2022 inflation surge

The COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan brought a series of socioeconomic, educational, health, and political upheavals. In response, the Kazakh government introduced a series of anti-crisis measures in dealing the effects of the pandemic, with the Human Rights Watch in response claimed the COVID-19 had "elevated inequality" and called for the Kazakh government to "urgently expand relief programs and provide stronger social protection."

In the beginning of 2021, vaccination rollout began in Kazakhstan which initially fared poorly due to skepticism and mistrust by the public. To accelerate the jab uptake, the Kazakh government introduced mandatory vaccination, testing and health pass requirements in public settings that received mixed results as it had increased the vaccination rates in Kazakhstan although marred by massive use of fraudulent vaccine passports and unvaccinated people being miscounted as vaccinated. The controversial policy was also met with unsanctioned anti-vaccine protests that occurred in several cities.

Although the Kazakh economy, effected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to low oil prices and domestic activity, had begun recovering in late 2020 and eventually reaching its pre-pandemic real GDP growth rate of 3.5% by October 2021, Kazakhstan had also faced the inflation surge with the cost of food being the most impacted. With inflation rate being around 8.5% in late 2021, it grew sharply beginning in the spring of 2022 as a result of rising prices, this led to a surge of labour strikes, especially in Western Kazakhstan starting in 2021 and by the summer of that year, the situation was seemingly becoming worrisome with the Oxus Society's Central Asian Protest Tracker recording more strikes than in the years of 2018 to 2020 combined, indicating a rise in social discontent.

January 2022 unrest and purges of Nazarbayev's affiliates

Main article: 2022 Kazakh unrest

President's Residence after being stormed by protesters during the unrest in Almaty, 10 January 2022

With increasing costs of living and social discontent, the situational outlook underwent a turn starting 2022 when protests broke out in the oil-producing city of Zhanaozen on 2 January over a sudden sharp increase over the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Prior to that, the Kazakh government subsidised domestic fuel and was in a process of lifting price ceiling and having the cost of LPG be determined by a digital market, a move that essentially led to a spike in LPG prices that overwhelmingly impacted vehicle owners in a poorly rich Mangystau Region.

While the protests occurring in Western Kazakhstan at the beginning were essentially low-key and small scaled with the demands in simply reducing the cost of LPG, to eventual calls for political and socioeconomic reforms whilst the discontent soon quickly spread to other places. In an attempt to appease the public, President Tokayev ordered the government to reinstate a six-month price cap on LPG, gasoline, diesel fuel, and basic food products, as well as including a moratorium was on the prices of home utilities, along with a rent subsidy for low-income residents. He also urged Kazakh citizens not to disturb public order and that all legitimate demands by the protesters would be considered. However, Tokayev's concessions failed to subdue the anger and by third night, the demonstrations spiraled into riots beginning in the largest city of Almaty, where violent clashes had broken out between protesters and government forces leading to gun fires and looting taking place all over the city. Various government buildings across Kazakhstan were stormed and set on fire, as well as reports of internet blackouts, to which in response to widespread anarchy prompted for Tokayev to enact a state of emergency and dismiss PM Asqar Mamin's government. He also requested the intergovernmental military-allied Collective Security Treaty Organization for peacekeeping intervention and authorised deadly force to be used against protesters as part of "counterterrorist operation".

National Security Committee chairman Karim Massimov (pictured in 2019) was a main suspect charged with treason by Tokayev

The aftermath of massive unrest reportedly left 225 people dead and over 2,600 injured, as well as estimated worth of over $2 billion in damages. Due its severity, the unrest became infamously known as "Bloody January" (Kazakh: Қанды қаңтар). Many local and international human rights groups reported the Kazakh government's subsequent use of prison torture, ill-treatment, and custody deaths to over 10,000 detainees which included protesters, journalists, human rights activists and bystanders. During that period, the Kazakh government was criticised in failing to conduct a proper independent investigation of civilian deaths during the unrest and essentially refused to publish the official list of unrest victims until August 2022, which only provided for the last names and initials of the victims' names instead of a fully detailed information and in turn, raised the death toll higher.

President Tokayev himself accused the January unrest as being an "attempted coup d'état" that was infiltrated by foreign backed 20,000 terrorists from neighbouring Central Asian countries, Afghanistan and the Middle East, a claim which has been dismissed by numerous political experts and analysts as no evidence showed of any signs in foreign involvement within the protests. Others suggested for a power struggle orchestrating the unrest, with former president Nazarbayev and his successor Tokayev being the main players of a conflict. One of the main visible signs came with the dismissal of Nazarbayev from his lifelong Security Council position. Nevertheless, Nazarbayev himself denied any claims of alleged elite conflict to which he described them as being rumours.

Notwithstanding Nazarbayev's reassurances in dismissing power struggle speculations, Tokayev began a series of purges and crackdowns against several officials that were viewed to be loyal to Nazarbayev, beginning with the arrest of former Prime Minister and National Security Committee chairman Karim Massimov, as he was charged with treason. Massimov's deputy and Nazarbayev's nephew Samat Abish was also dismissed from the UQK. Other officials who were Nazarbayev's relatives faced resignations from various company leading roles in which the Eurasianet described the outcomes as part of "De-Nazarbayevification". Another move came within the Parliament in February 2022, from where a series of bills were passed that fully ensured an end to Nazarbayev's lifetime chairmanship of the Security Council and the Assembly of People. Dariga Nazarbayeva, who was previously elected as MP in 2021, resigned from her Majilis seat as well.

2022 constitutional referendum and snap election speculations

Main article: 2022 Kazakh constitutional referendum

Following the 2022 unrest, President Tokayev at the March 2022 State of the Nation Address announced political and constitutional reforms to reduce his executive powers and grant the Parliament more authority. To do so, he initiated a constitutional referendum which would amend 33 of the document's 98 articles. During the drafting process, several controversial changes were proposed that would have derecognised Russian as the official language as well as granting former president Nazarbayev a new title as being the "founder of independent Kazakhstan", which was scrapped due to extensive public backlash. Throughout the campaigning, the proposed amendments and holding of a constitutional referendum was virtually supported by all pro-government political parties, state institutions, NGOs, public figures, and statesmen while the opposition criticised the referendum for its financial cost, short timeframe for campaigning, and a lack of dialogue between the Kazakh government and citizens during drafting. The constitutional changes in the end were officially approved by 77.2% of the voters.

The holding of a 2022 constitutional referendum was viewed by political analysts as an attempt to boost President Tokayev's legitimacy and potential second term ambitions. Political scientist Dosym Satpaev described the referendum as a "mini-rehearsal of the upcoming presidential elections", while according to Gaziz Abishev, political scientist and editor chief of Turan Times, hinted a possibility of a snap presidential election taking place by the end of 2022, although noting that the move would reduce Tokayev's length in office by few years and instead suggesting for the snap presidential election being held in 2023 or early 2024 at latest to leave "wide room for maneuver" by Tokayev. Senate chairman Mäulen Äşimbaev himself in remarks to snap presidential elections being held in the autumn of 2022 called the speculations as "groundless rumors", saying that "elections will be held within a certain period of time [and] everything will be held according to the law."

State of the Nation Address and announcement of snap elections

On 1 September 2022, during the State of the Nation Address, President Tokayev announced snap presidential elections to take place in the autumn of that year, insisting that a "new mandate of trust from the people" is necessary as a basis of his decision.

In accordance with Article 51 of the Constitutional Law "On Elections", a snap presidential election is held by the decision of the President and shall be conducted within two months from the date of its appointment. Regarding the speculations on the exact date that the elections would be held, political scientist Daniar Äşimbaev whilst taking into account of election campaign, suggested 20, 24 November or 4 December as being the likely dates for the 2022 presidential election. While KazTAG alluded 13 November being the election day, as an interview with the People's Party MP Irina Smirnova when asked whether candidates had time to prepare for snap elections to which in response by Smirnova stated that any parties or movements must always be prepared for candidacy and hinted that the polls would fall on a Sunday date.

On 21 September 2022, President Tokayev signed a presidential decree, setting Sunday, 20 November as the election day. In his address to the nation, Tokayev pledged that the election would lead to "a radical reset of the entire political system" and that it would be conducted under "strict accordance with the law" with it being "fairly, openly and with the broad participation of domestic and international observers."

Electoral system

The President of Kazakhstan is elected using the two-round system; if more than two presidential candidates are included in the ballot and no one receives a majority of the vote in the first round, a second round is held between the top two candidates no later than two months after the first round is held. If the presidential election is declared null and void or has not determined the winner, then the Central Election Commission (CEC) may schedule a re-run election no later than two months after an initial vote is held.

According to Article 41 of the Constitution, a citizen of Kazakhstan by birth must at least 40 years old, have a minimum of five years of experience working in public service or elected positions, be fluent in the state language and be a resident of Kazakhstan for the last 15 years, to be elected and serve as president. The right in nominating presidential candidates under Article 55 of the Constitutional Law "On Elections" is reserved only towards registered republican public associations.

Article 51 of the Constitutional Law "On Elections" establishes first Sunday of December as a general date for the presidential election, in which it would have originally taken place on 1 December 2024 as Tokayev's five-year term was set to end by then.

"Against all" ballot column and its outcome on the election results

Following the implementation of the law "On the introduction of amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on election issues" in May 2021, the "Against all" column was reintroduced into the ballots. The CEC on 22 September 2022 announced that the "Against all" choice would be in place for the 2022 election.

In regard to whether the voting option would affect the outcome of the presidential election, CEC member Şavkat Ötemisov insisted that there would be no need for legislative action in this scenario due to no real-life examples of happening elsewhere and that the "Against all" column is "necessary for citizens to express their views on the candidates". Justice Minister Qanat Musin asserted that the "Against all" votes would only be taken into account as "evidence of voter turnout" and that the election results would only be determined by the number of votes cast for the candidates, regardless of whether the majority of people choose to vote "Against all", in which Musin elaborated that option exists solely as an "exercise of the right to participate in the elections".

Seven-year presidential term proposal and enactment

President Tokayev at his State of the Nation Address had also suggested a new constitutional amendment in having the presidential term limit changed from two five-year terms to just a single seven-year term and was initially then planned to submit his proposal to Parliament after the election.

Following Tokayev's announcement, numerous questions and speculations arose regarding his proposals on presidential term changes and limits. State Counsellor Erlan Karin praised Tokayev's initiative as "a final step away from the super-presidential model", saying that a "one-time presidential norm stabilizes the country's political system for a long time, prevents monopolization of power and strengthens the basic principles of democracy." According to Mäulen Äşimbaev, the Senate chairman, a seven-year term which would allow for the "development of political competition" and "reduces the risk of monopolising power", assessing that every elected head of state in the world serves for about 10 years.

Catherine Putz in The Diplomat wrote that proposed constitutional changes in presidential terms could potentially allow for Tokayev serve as president for more than two terms until 2034. Political scientist Dosym Satpaev also supported the theory of Tokayev's desire in holding a snap election in an attempt to prolong his term of office due to fears by Tokayev of losing more popularity before originally scheduled 2024 presidential elections are held, which would in turn lead to instability and potentially losing power to his supposed elite opponents, including former president Nazarbayev. Other political analysts viewed the decision by Tokayev to strengthen his power while facing difficult times in political instability and economic problems.

Vice Justice Minister Alma Mūqanova asserted that Tokayev's second term length would depend on the timing in enacting of the proposed constitutional amendment, in which if it comes to force prior before presidential elections are held, then Tokayev if reelected, would serve a nonconsecutive seven-year term.

The ruling Amanat party's Jaña Qazaqstan political faction, in an attempt to soothe public doubts and avoid legal conflicts, proposed to adopt the single seven-year term law prior to snap elections that would prevent Tokayev in this scenario from running for a de facto third term in 2027 and instead grant him an option of holding office no later than 2029 as it was originally intended, to which the members of the faction stressed that it would uphold Kazakhstan's commitment to not have "completely abandoned the super-presidential power." Erjan Jienbaev, deputy head of the Presidential Administration, affirmed that a newly drafted law in extending the presidential term to seven years would remain in place for next elections and that an additional amendment in limiting the possibility of amending the presidential terms for future would be introduced as well, hence making the law in general permanently unmodifiable and guaranteeing Tokayev's second term to be effectively his last.

On 12 September 2022, President Tokayev under the proposals made by Jaña Qazaqstan legislators then appealed to the Constitutional Council to overlook the amendment draft in extending his term of office. In response, the Constitutional Council ruled in favour of Tokayev's request on 13 September, thus setting the stage for the Parliament's approval. On 16 September, at the joint session of the Parliament, a number of amendments including a one seven-year presidential term were adopted. MP Aidos Sarym described the decision as "a democratic norm", outlining that a new president of Kazakhstan will be chosen every seven years. While MP Erlan Sairov called it as the "real direction of democracy" where "one political person cannot run for the presidency for more than one term." Aq Jol Democratic Party MP Qazybek Isa stressed that the move would prevent "some mistakes that have occurred" within the 30 years of Kazakhstan's independence, expressing his relief for the country having a "second president" and that a new president will take office in seven years. From there, the ratified constitutional amendments were subsequently signed into law by Tokayev on 17 September.

Candidates

Article 54 of the Constitutional Law "On Elections" stipulates that the Central Election Commission (CEC) establishes the compliance of a presidential candidate as requirements set forth in the Constitution and Constitutional Law "On Elections" within five days from the date of submitting the extract from the supreme body of a republican public association meeting on the candidate's nomination as well as his consent to run for president with the document certifying the candidate's payment of an election fee. The presidential candidate shall deposit an election fee in the amount of 50 statutory minimum wages (3 million tenge) to the account of the CEC. Candidates will receive a payment for being elected as president or receiving at least five percent of the vote share, as in the case of the death of the candidate. In all other cases, the fee is non-refundable and is transferred to the revenues of the national budget.

Registered

The CEC carries out the registration of qualified candidates upon submission of the necessary documents that includes extracts from the meeting of a public association's supreme body, a candidate's participatory consent, supporting signatures collected by citizens, biographic data of a candidate, declarations of assets and liabilities by the candidate and his or her spouse, confirmation of a deposited election fee, as well as medical examinations regarding the candidate's state of health.

Registration of candidates took place from two months before the elections following the nomination and submission of documents to the CEC and ended at 18.00 local time forty days (21 October) before the election day. A total of six candidates were registered by the CEC which were two women and four men, one civil servant, one representative of the commercial sector, four representatives of the non-governmental sector, as well as one representative of a political party.

Candidate name and age, political party			Political office(s)	Announced	Details	Registration date
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (70) Independent (People's Coalition)			President of Kazakhstan (since 2019) Chairman of the Senate (2007–2011 and 2013–2019) Minister of Foreign Affairs (1994–1999 and 2002–2007) State Secretary of Kazakhstan (2002–2003) Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (1999–2002) Other offices Chairman of the Assembly of People since 2021 Chairman of Nur Otan in 2022 Member of the Senate from 2007 to 2011 and 2013 to 2019 Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2011 to 2013 Deputy Prime Minister in 1999 First Deputy Foreign Minister from 1993 to 1994 Deputy Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1993	1 September 2022 (Campaign)	Having a long portfolio of diplomatic and political career along with the backing of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, Tokayev was elected in the 2019 presidential election as a ruling Nur Otan party nominee, where he won around 71% of the popular vote. After fully assuming presidency in June of that year, Tokayev proclaimed himself to be a "reformer" while pledging to continue Nazarbayev's policies. In his first years of office, Tokayev enacted several progressive and populist reforms that were aimed at broadening political pluralism, decentralising the government, strengthening human rights and improving the standard of living in Kazakhstan. Amongst notable changes were abolishing capital punishment, raising the national minimum wage, and prohibiting the sale of agricultural land to foreigners. He had also prior to the vote announced amnesty towards 2022 unrest participants and has supported in reverting the capital name of Nur-Sultan back to Astana.	12 October 2022
Meiram Qajyken (62) AKD			Leader of Yntymaq (since 2022)	26 September 2022	Head of the Astana School of Economics at the Astana International Science Complex (ISCA), member of the Amanat Commonwealth of Trade Unions	15 October 2022
Jiguli Dairabaev (68) Auyl	File:Жигули Дайрабаев (2022) (cropped).png		Member of the Surpeme Council (1993–1995) Member of the Supreme Soviet (1990–1993) Other offices Head of the Department of Statistics in Turar Ryskulov District from 1997 to 2001 Director of the "Qorağaty" state farm from 1995 to 1997 Head of the Department of Agriculture in Turar Ryskulov District from 1995 to 1997 Chairman of the board of the Jambyl collective farm in Lugovoi District from 1987 to 1995 Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan (QKP) committee of the "Algabas" sheep farm in Lugovoi District (1985–1987) Instructor of the Lugovsky District Committee of the QKP from 1984 to 1985 Chairman of the Kamensk Rural Executive Committee from 1980 to 1984 Chairman of the trade union committee of "The Way to Communism" collective farm in Lugovoi District from 1977 to 1980 Instructor of the Lugovoi District Committee of the Komsomol in 1977 Secretary of the Komsomol Committee of the "The Way to Communism" collective farm in Lugovoi District from 1974 to 1977	30 September 2022 (Campaign)	Chair of the Agro-Industrial Complex Committee at the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Chair of the Association of Farmers	17 October 2022
Qaraqat Äbden (49) KÄQŪA			Member of the Astana City Mäslihat (2016–2021)	7 October 2022(Campaign • Website)		19 October 2022
Saltanat Tūrsynbekova (49) QA–DJ				11 October 2022(Campaign • Website)		20 October 2022
Nurlan Auesbaev (66) JSDP			Leader of the Nationwide Social Democratic Party in Astana (since 2021)	1 October 2022(Campaign)		20 October 2022

Rejected

Candidate	Political party		Political office(s)	Announced	Details
Inga Imanbai	Democratic Party		None	29 September 2022	As a wife of the unregistered Democratic Party leader Janbolat Mamai, Inga Imanbai worked in various opposition newspapers as a journalist where she brought up issues on political prisoners and refugees and is coordinator of the Human Rights Bureau press center since 2017. On 29 September 2022, Imanbai appealed to the CEC in regard to her candidature which was immediately rejected due to failing to meet age requirements and experience in the civil service.
Balli Marzec	Independent		Chairman of Foreign Bureau of the Opposition of Kazakhstan	29 September 2022	Kazakh-born Polish citizen Balli Marzec had been involved in opposition since 2002 where she, along with the group of Kazakh diaspora, founded the NGO Kazakh Community Association. Marzec has been involved in political activism in support for civil liberties as well as political prisoners and opposition activists and has dealt with the issues of human rights and democratic changes in Post-Soviet states. She took part in a failed bid for the 2015 Polish presidential election. Marzec applied her candidature several times to the CEC, upon which were all rejected on 2 October 2022 in accordance with the law that made her unqualifiable.
Hairolla Ğabjalilov	OAB		None	11 October 2022	Karakalpakstan-born artist and architect Hairolla Ğabjalilov is known for being one of the first banknote designers of the Kazakhstani tenge in the early 1990s. His nomination from the Association of Oralmans "Asar" was turned down by the CEC on 13 October 2022 on the basis of not being a citizen of Kazakhstan by birth and having enough experience in civil service, to which Ğabjalilov in response slammed the CEC's decision as being "fictitious" and insisted that true reasoning of him being barred was due to being a "potential opponent".
Talgat Erğaliev	Union of Builders		Member of the Mäjilis (2012–2016)	10 October 2022	Talgat Erğaliev who previously attempted to run in 2019, was nominated by the Union of Builders public association on 10 October 2022, for which he has headed since 2010. The CEC on 13 October 2022 rejected Erğaliev's candidacy due to working in the civil service for just a little over three years, below the five-year minimum requirement.
Fatima Bizaqova	Practical Psychology		None	11 October 2022	Psychologist and business coach Fatima Bizaqova as a chairwoman of Practical Psychology became the organisation's presidential nominee on 11 October 2022 and subsequently applied her documents to the CEC. On 13 October 2022, Bizaqova's candidacy was rejected by the CEC for having no experience in public office.

Nominations

The timeframe in nominating presidential candidates begins on the day following announcement of elections and shall end at 18:00 local time with two months before the election is held. The nomination of presidential candidates by republican public associations is conducted on the behalf of their supreme bodies. A public association can nominate only one candidate, who are not obliged to members of the given public association with the selection process being taken by majority of votes from the members of the supreme body of a republican public association.

The nominations of candidates took place starting 23 September and concluded on 11 October 2022. There were in total 12 candidates nominated for presidency with two persons being from political parties while the rest being public associations. The CEC at the time of the deadline for nominations registered five candidates with seven still undergoing the document process.

People's Coalition (HK)

Senate chairman Mäulen Äşimbaev on 29 September 2022 stated that Tokayev is supported both by Amanat and other parties, reiterating that Tokayev would make his decision on the nominating offer, to which he recalled that the upcoming congresses by political parties would consider the issue of presidential nominations. Aida Jeksenova, head of the El Dauysy Public Foundation, assessed the possibility of Tokayev being solely nominated by Amanat, People's Party, and Aq Jol parties as a candidate noting the unusual move in party congresses being held all at the same dates.

On 5 October 2022, a number of public associations announced their interests of nominating Tokayev as a candidate, to which in response, Tokayev unveiled his personal interest of being nominated from "a broad coalition of socio-political forces", insisting that the presidential nomination offers from various republican associations and political parties indicated "a significant increase in three and a half years of support by citizens for the implemented and planned transformations." Amanat chairman Erlan Qoşanov on 6 October revealed that the party along with several political associations had initially agreed to form the People's Coalition in support of Tokayev. That same day, the 1st People's Coalition Forum was held which was attended by 2,000 representatives of political parties and more than 30 republican associations. From there, Qoşanov presented Tokayev's nomination where he outlined that the "mobilisation of the leading political forces on the basis of common goals will motivate the country" and that a vote for Tokayev would be a "choice of the true patriots". Speaking at the forum event, Tokayev called the upcoming elections as "a very important campaign" that would "define the path" of Kazakhstan's development and highlighted the importance of the coalition including leading political parties, public organizations, and movements which covered all social layers, pledging to maintain his stance in being "politically neutral". He also named the seven principles that would govern the nation. Justice Minister Qanat Musin reiterated that Tokayev may be registered as a candidate only from "a particular organisation" and remarking that a coalition is simply "a political concept [and] not a legal one."

Amanat

On 7 September 2022, Amanat chairman Erlan Qoşanov announced that his party would nominate incumbent president Tokayev as a candidate in the election, to which Qoşanov described him as "a worthy person, a worthy candidate" and that the overall decision on a presidential nomination offer would be made by Tokayev. In spite of Tokayev recognising himself as an independent after previously leaving his Amanat membership in April, Qoşanov added that the Amanat has not deprived him of the opportunity to be nominated. Furthermore, Justice Minister Qanat Musin answering legal questions acknowledged that Tokayev may be nominated regardless of his party affiliation or not.

The 24th Amanat Extraordinary Congress was held on 6 October 2022 that was attended by more than 1,200 people which included 700 party delegates. From there, Qoşanov expressed the need for a "worthy leader" to achieve the "great goals of the state", and in turn proposed Tokayev for nomination as he urged all Kazakh citizens to united around his progressive reforms. As a result, Tokayev was unanimously selected to be the presidential nominee by the delegates.

Potential

In response regarding former president Nazarbayev's right in running for president, Justice Vice Minister Alma Mūqanova said that Nazarbayev wouldn't be able to participate in elections in which she cited the amendments adopted in the 2022 constitutional referendum that excluded the norm solely applied to Nazarbayev which allowed him to previously run indefinitely. However, Mūqanova's words became contradicted just days later by Şavkat Ötemisov, a member of the Central Election Commission, who claimed that Nazarbayev had the right in announcing his candidature including his daughter Dariga and "anyone who meets the requirements".

• Nursultan Nazarbayev, 1st President of Kazakhstan (1991–2019), Chairman of Security Council (1991–2022), Chairman of Nur Otan (1999–2022), Chairman of the Assembly of People (1995–2021)
• Dariga Nazarbayeva, Member of the Majilis (2021–2022, 2012–2015, 2004–2007), Chairwoman of the Senate (2019–2020), Member of the Senate (2016–2020), Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (2015–2016), Deputy Chairwoman of the Majilis (2014–2015), Chairwoman of Asar (2003–2006)

• 

  Former President
  Nursultan Nazarbayev
  from Almaty Region
• 

  Former MP
  Dariga Nazarbayeva
  from Almaty

Declined

• Mäulen Äşimbaev, Chairman of the Senate (2020–present), Member of the Senate (2020–present), First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration (2019–2020), First Deputy Chairman of Nur Otan (2018–2019), Member of the Majilis (2012–2018)
• Erlan Qoşanov, Chairman of the Mazhilis (2022–present), Chairman of Amanat (2022–present), Member of the Majilis (2022–present), Head of the Presidential Administration (2019–2022), Äkim of Karaganda Region (2017–2019), Head of Prime Minister's Office (2012–2017), Member of the Senate (1995–1999)

• 

  Senate Chairman
  Mäulen Äşimbaev
  from Almaty
• 

  Majilis Chairman
  Erlan Qoşanov
  from Karaganda Region

Aq Jol Democratic Party (AJDP)

Chairman Azat Peruashev revealed the Aq Jol Democratic Party's intent of choosing a presidential nominee, saying that there are "worthy opponents for the head of state".

At the 19th Aq Jol Democratic Party Extraordinary Congress that took place on 6 October 2022 in Astana, 126 party delegates took part in voting for a nominee, to which Peruashev announced that the plenum had still not reached a consensus of choosing a presidential candidate, noting that the party congress has the power in making a decision. Peruashev himself endorsed President Tokayev for nomination while six candidates originally expressed interest to be nominated. That was eventually left to just four candidatures being considered by the Aq Jol for nomination, to which as a result of secret ballot selection, Tokayev received the majority of 74 votes. That was followed by Serik Erubaev with 23 votes, Asqar Sadyqov with 17 votes, and Sanduğaş Düisenova with 11 votes. From there, Peruashev remarked that Tokayev's proposals were "consonant" with the Aq Jol's programme, adding that a president should not only serve "one party" but instead "the whole nation".

Declared

• Serik Erubaev,
• Asqar Sadyqov,
• Sanduğaş Düisenova, journalist

Potential

• Azat Peruashev, Member of the Majilis (2012–present), Chairman of the Aq Jol Democratic Party (2011–present)
• Dania Espaeva, Member of the Majilis (2016–present), candidate for president in 2019

• 

  Aq Jol Chairman
  Azat Peruashev
  from Jambyl Region
• 

  Majilis MP
  Dania Espaeva
  from Aktobe Region

People's Party of Kazakhstan (QHP)

The People's Party of Kazakhstan (QHP) initially expressed its support for President Tokayev's announced political changes on 1 September 2022, as well as not ruling out in nominating Tokayev for the election.

On 6 October 2022, the 21st congress of the People's Party of Kazakhstan was hosted in Astana with the QHP chairman Ermūhamet Ertısbaev proposing Tokayev's nomination, where he stressed the need of "someone with extensive experience in government and international politics" in the context of "geopolitical collapse" and noted that the Tokayev's policies "fully corresponds to the ideology and values" of the QHP. Following Ertisbaev's speech, the party delegates unanimously voted for Tokayev to be the QHP nominee.

"Auyl" People's Democratic Patriotic Party (AHDDP)

At the 20th Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party Extraordinary Congress held on 30 September 2022 in Astana, Jiguli Dairabaev was nominated as the first presidential candidate in which the decision was supported by an overwhelmingly 67 delegates with just two voting against. From there, Dairabaev pledged to put "all efforts into the development of Kazakhstan and the agro-industrial complex".

Declared

• Jiguli Dairabaev, chair of the Agro-Industrial Complex Committee at the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, chair of the Association of Farmers

Potential

• Äli Bektaev, Chairman of Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party (2015–present), Member of the Senate (2014–present), Äkim of Turkistan (2006–2008)
• Toleutai Raqymbekov, candidate for president in 2019, Chairman of National Agrarian Research and Education Center (2019–present), Vice Minister of Agriculture (2017)

• 

  Senator
  Äli Bektaev
  from Turkistan Region
• 

  Politician
  Toleutai Raqymbekov
  from Karaganda Region

Potential

• Ermurat Bapi, candidate for president in 2019, Chairman of the Nationwide Social Democratic Party (2019), candidate for Mäjilis MP in 2016, Member of the For a Just Kazakhstan Central Council (2005–2006), Member of the executive committee of the Republican People's Party (1998–2001)

Nationwide Social Democratic Party (JSDP)

On 1 October 2022, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party (JSDP) at its 19th Extraordinary Congress nominated Nurlan Auesbaev as a candidate for president.

"Amanat" Commonwealth of Trade Unions (AKD)

Meiram Qajyken, head of the Institute of Economic Research in the Astana International Scientific Complex, unveiled his nomination on 3 October 2022 by the "Amanat" Commonwealth of Trade Unions following after a subsequent joint meeting of the organisation's executive and central committee. Qajyken cited his previous experience in working with various trade union associations in Kazakhstan and that his election programme was prepared though not ruling out the need of adjusting it whilst taking into account of the wishes by supporters.

National Alliance of Professional Social Workers (KÄQŪA)

At the meeting of the National Alliance of Professional Social Workers (KÄJŪA) held on 7 October 2022, the NGO nominated public figure Qaraqat Äbden for presidency which was reported due to the need of KÄJŪA to achieve and promote the issues and protections of interests by the socially vulnerable segments of Kazakhstan's citizens.

Mūqalmas

On 7 October 2022, Nūrjan Ältaev applied his presidential candidacy documents from the Mūqalmas public association after facing accusations of allegedly falsifying the protocol of the Mūqalmas' supreme body meeting by the organisation activists who insisted that Ältaev was not supported by "some leaders" of the Mūqalmas' branches.

Declared

• Nūrjan Ältaev, Leader of El Tıregı (2020–present), Member of the Mäjilis (2019–2020), Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population (2018–2019), Vice Minister of Agriculture (2017–2018)

Others

• Union of Builders of Kazakhstan (QQO): Talgat Erğaliev, chairman of the Union of Builders of Kazakhstan, was nominated as the presidential candidate and subsequently applied the registration documents on 10 October 2022.

• Halyq Demografiasy (HD): On 10 October 2022, Jūmatai Äliev submitted his candidacy on the behalf of the nomination by the Halyq Demografiasy public association.
• Association of Oralmans "Asar" (OAB): Hairolla Ğabjalilov on 11 October 2022 presented his participatory documents as a nominee from the Association of Oralmans "Asar".
• Qazaq analary–dästürge jol (QA–DJ): Human rights activist Saltanat Tūrsynbekova became a presidential nominee from the Qazaq analary–dästürge jol public association on 11 October 2022.
• Kazakhstan League of Football Fans (QFÄL): The Kazakhstan League of Football Fans nominated Baqyt Jañabaev as its candidate on 11 October 2022. Jañabaev voiced his interest of taking part in the election as "a new trend" rather to remain "a silent spectator".
• Practical Psychology (TP): Fatima Bizaqova was the last candidate to be nominated for president by the Practical Psychology organisation on 11 October 2022.

Self-nominees

Declared

• Jasaral Quanyşälin, Leader of Alğa Qazaqstan (2022–present), Head of the Aktobe Regional Department of Information and Public Consent (1999–2003), Director of the Aktobe Regional Archive (1999), Deputy Head of the Aktobe Regional Department for Demography and Migration (1998–1999), Member of the Supreme Council (1994–1995), Chairman of the Azat Civil Movement (1992–1994), First Deputy Chairman of the Azat Civil Movement (1991–1992)
• Hasen Qojahmetov, candidate for president in 2015 and 1991, Leader of the Azat Civil Movement (1994–present), Leader of the Jeltoqsan National Democratic Party (1991–1992)
• Serik Äbdirahmanov, Member of the Mäjilis (1999–2007), Member of the Supreme Council (1994–1995), Adviser to the President (1991–1992), Deputy Chairman of the Alma-Ata City Executive Committee (1990–1991), First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Komsomol (1981–1987), Member of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR (1980–1993)
• Meiram Qajyken, Leader of Yntymaq (2022–present), Chairman of the Committee for Industry and Scientific and Technical Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (2005–2007), Adviser to the Prime Minister and Head of the Production Sphere and Infrastructure Department of the Prime Minister's Office (2003–2005), Head of the Department of Economics of Pavlodar Region (2002–2003), Head of Department of the Ministry of Economy (1999–2000), Head of Department and Deputy Head of Department of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms (1998–1999), Deputy Head of the Department of Industry of Pavlodar Region (1996–1997), Adviser to the Äkim and Deputy Head of the Department of Economics and Finance of the Pavlodar Regional Akimat (1994–1996), Chief Specialist and Head of the Department of Economics of Pavlodar Region (1992–1994)
• Uälihan Qaisarov, candidate for Mäjilis MP in 2016, 2012, and 2007, Member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Party Adilet (2012–2013), First Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party Adilet (2011–2012), Member of the Nationwide Social Democratic Party and Azat presidium of the political council (2009–2011), candidate for 2005 presidential elections, Chairman of the Abyroi Kazakh Party of Social Protection (2004), Senator from Karaganda Region (1999–2005)

Withdrawn

• Amirjan Qosanov, candidate for president in 2019, General Secretary of the Azat Party (2009–2013), First Deputy Chairman of the Nationwide Social Democratic Party (2006–2009), Chairman of the Republican People's Party's Executive Committee (2000–2001), Deputy Chairman of the Republican People's Party (1998–2000), Member of the Commission under the President on Issues of Pardon (1994)

Qualification

The CEC overlooks the qualifications of candidates in accordance with the Constitution by acknowledging the person's proficiency in the Kazakh language after applying for presidential race. On 28 September 2022, CEC secretary Muqtar Erman announced the formation of the linguistic commission, a group consisting of six well-known scientists who oversee the candidate's fluency (with the exception of incumbent president) in Kazakh language. A candidate is required to undergo process established by the CEC which is:

1. Write an assignment on a topic proposed by the linguistic commission, no more than two pages;
2. Read printed text proposed by the linguistic commission, no more than three pages;
3. Publicly speak on a topic set by the linguistic commission for at least 15 minutes.

Candidate	Linguistic exam				Result
	1. Essay topic	2. Excerpt reading	3. Presentational topic	Date
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev	Did not participate
Meiram Qajyken	Қазіргі заманғы жаһандық мәселелер ("Contemporary Global Issues")	Мұхтар Әуезовтің «Абай жолы» ("'The Path of Abai' by Mukhtar Auezov")	Ырыс алды – ынтымақ ("Irys took – solidarity")	8 October 2022	Demonstrated fluency by a unanimous vote
Jiguli Dairabaev	Менің елім, менің жерім ("My country, my land.")	Poems by Abai Qunanbaiuly	Күшіміз – бірлікте ("Our strength is in unity")	8 October 2022	Demonstrated fluency by a unanimous vote
Nurlan Auesbaev	Түркістан – ер түріктің бесігі ("Turkistan – the cradle of Turks.")	Жүсіпбек Аймауытұлының «Ақбілек» ("'Clever' by Jüsipbek Aimauytuly")	Ана тілім – асыл қазынам ("My mother tongue is my true treasure")	10 October 2022	Demonstrated fluency by a unanimous vote
Qaraqat Äbden	Тіл – халықтың алтын діңгегі ("Language is the golden pillar of the people.")	Ілияс Есенберлиннің «Көшпенділер» ("'The Nomads.' by Ilias Esenberlin")	Азат елдің еңсесі биік ("The free country is high")	10 October 2022	Demonstrated fluency by a unanimous vote
Nūrjan Ältaev	Біртұтас Алаш идеясы ("The idea of a unified Alash")	Ілияс Есенберлиннің «Көшпенділер» ("'The Nomads' by Ilias Esenberlin")	Бабалар аманаты ("Legacy of our Forefathers")	11 October 2022	Demonstrated fluency by a unanimous vote
Jūmatai Äliev	Түркістан – ер түріктің бесігі ("Turkistan – the cradle of Turks")	Мұқағали Мақатаевтың «Аққулар ұйықтағанда» ("'When swans sleep' by Mukaghali Makatayev")	Адал еңбек – игілік көзі ("Honest work is a source of fortune.")	12 October 2022	Demonstrated fluency by a majority vote with two abstentions
Baqyt Jañabaev	Экология – бүгіннің басты мәселесі ("Ecology is the main problem of today.")	Міржақып Дулатовтың «Оян, қазақ!» ("'Wake up, Kazakh!' by Mirjaqip Dulatuli)	Бабалар аманаты ("Legacy of our Forefathers.")	13 October 2022	Demonstrated fluency by a majority vote with one abstention

The CEC also issues a final decision on the candidate's eligibility (a compliance) to participate in the election by determining if the candidate meets all of the necessary following requirements:

Candidate	Citizen by birth	Experience in civil service	Higher education	Valid nomination	Fluent in Kazakh	Summary
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Compliance established on 8 October 2022
Meiram Qajyken	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Compliance established on 8 October 2022
Jiguli Dairabaev	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Compliance established on 9 October 2022
Nurlan Auesbaev	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Compliance established on 10 October 2022
Qaraqat Äbden	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Compliance established on 11 October 2022
Nūrjan Ältaev	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	No N	Yes Y	Compliance suspended on 12 October 2022
Jūmatai Äliev	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Compliance established on 12 October 2022
Saltanat Tūrsynbekova	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Compliance established on 12 October 2022
Baqyt Jañabaev	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Yes Y	Compliance established on 13 October 2022

Signatures

A presidential candidate is required to collect support by at least one percent of the electorate (118,273 signatures) proportionally representing two thirds of regions, and cities of republican significance including the capital of Astana. The collection of signatures in support of a candidate is organised by agents and executed in signature sheets that are issued by the Central Election Commission (CEC) no later than five days after the candidate has undergone through eligibility with the requirements towards documents in regard to his or her nomination.

Candidates began collecting signatures following the end of nomination period with the verification of them alongside the registration of candidates being completed by 21 October 2022.

Party		Candidate	Number of signatures				Reporting date
			Original	Verified	Valid	Total submitted
HK		Kassym-Jomart Tokayev	140,167	141,045	281,212	399,809	12 October 2022
AKD		Meiram Qajyken	—	—	120,055	122,184	15 October 2022
AHDDP		Jiguli Dairabaev	—	—	119,975	125,081	17 October 2022
KÄQŪA		Qaraqat Äbden	—	—	118,418	121,314	19 October 2022
QA–DJ		Saltanat Tūrsynbekova	—	—	118,434	119,316	20 October 2022
JSDP		Nurlan Auesbaev	—	—	119,197	120,908	20 October 2022
QFÄL		Baqyt Jañabaev	—	—	4,054	58,889	21 October 2022
HD		Jūmatai Äliev	—	—	36,776	187,723	21 October 2022

Fundraising

A presidential campaign fund consists of the candidate's own finance and donations from the nominated republican public association with the total amount not exceeding than 12,000 statutory minimum wages (720 million tenge). While voluntary donations from the public and organisations in Kazakhstan must not exceed 15,000 statutory minimum wages (900 million tenge).

On 28 September 2022, the Central Election Commission (CEC) adopted a resolution in allocating a total of 10,312,600 tenge from republican budget for each candidate that would cover needs in:

• Speeches with programs on television and radio, as well as the publication of 2 articles in print periodicals (9,012,600 tenge)
• Holding public pre-election events and issuing campaign materials (800,000 tenge)
• Transport expenses (500,000 tenge)

Campaign

Campaigning officially kicked off on 21 October 2022 at 18:00, with presidential candidates opening up their public election headquarters across Kazakhstan's regions. The Central Election Commission (CEC) on 22 October held a meeting with the representatives of campaign headquarters regarding the rules of canvassing in which the CEC issued warning about the candidates' expulsion if laws are violated and that all financial transactions must be conducted openly with the campaign headquarters issuing reports of election spending.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Main article: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev 2022 presidential campaign

Incumbent president nominee Kassym-Jomart Tokayev initially announced his run for reelection during the 1 September 2022 State of the Nation Address. When signing a decree on the date for the presidential election on 21 September, he hinted that his election manifesto would outline "new initiatives aimed at achieving socio-economic progress". After becoming a nominee for the People's Coalition, Tokayev stated that he would present his election platform in "near future" and that it would include measures for the transformation of Kazakhstan and the improvement of its welfare of citizens, as well as a balanced foreign policy to ensure "regional and global security".

Meiram Qajyken

At the opening of the campaign headquarters on 21 October 2022, Meiram Qajyken, leader of Yntymaq and "Amanat" Commonwealth of Trade Unions nominee, unveiled the main directions of his election programme to which civil society and social partnership were described to be the main basis of it.

Jiguli Dairabaev

Main article: Jiguli Dairabaev 2022 presidential campaign

The election programme of Jiguli Dairabaev, nominee for the Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party, included principles of "steppe democracy", high spiritual and moral culture, a strong agrarian sector and strong regions to which he advocated for more infrastructure development towards rural villages to turn Kazakhstan into an "agrarian power". Dairabaev voiced his support towards a revival of agro-industrial complex and gentrification of villages, presidential guarantees for agricultural producers and employees, raising the status of agricultural workers by providing them more social support, develop an urban network of consumer societies and cooperatives to allow for cheaper food products to citizens, and providing insurance to agro-industrial complex investors. In addition, Dairabaev voiced his support for increased use of the Kazakh language in all spheres as well as "full support" for Oralmans ("Kazakh returnees").

Qaraqat Äbden

Main article: Qaraqat Äbden 2022 presidential campaign

National Alliance of Professional Social Workers nominee Qaraqat Äbden campaigned for improving living standards of Kazakh citizens and providing decent life for families with stance of "main wealth of the state" being a person itself. In Äbden's published election manifesto, which was self-described to be "socially oriented" particularly towards women and children, her policies included calls for strengthening the institution of the family by developing special courses, introducing cash certificates for housing or renting flats for certain period, obliging corporate employee benefits for young families, reducing threshold for rewarding mothers with lots of children, recognising housewives raising children as "workers", simplify the process of placing a child in a nearby kindergarten and school, digitalisation of a system granting social assistance to citizens, compensation system for mothers with many children living in an area with lack of adequate infrastructure and communication. For the support of children, Äbden proposed free extracurricular education and leisure activities for schoolchildren and college students, increased construction of educational faculties to accommodate growing population, state programs for development of child's ability and talents, unified healthcare system for children with rare diseases and encourage kindergartens and schools to take care of child. Towards youth, Äbden advocated for providing free education to children and young adults altogether and to include a scholarship payment tied with salary system, increased cooperation with schools and enterprises, formation of youth clubs with the involvement of older generation, and open support centers for girls in their harmonious development. For elderly, she suggested for a program to allow for the elderly travel around Kazakhstan at preferential rates, a grant program to organise joint leisure activites between seniors, improved infrastructure specifically designed for elders, and develop a system of treatment and rehabilitation of older people. Äbden's manifesto argued that culture and upbringing, education and science, health care and social protection were "the basis and guarantee of the successful development of any society."

Saltanat Tūrsynbekova

Main article: Saltanat Tursynbekova 2022 presidential campaign

Saltanat Tūrsynbekova after her nomination from the Qazaq analary–dästürge jol stressed the need in adhering to "the strategy outlined by Tokayev" and that her campaigning would focus on social issues, not ruling the issues of security regarding "the situation in international politics". Tursynbekova's mainly campaigned on the issue of the rule of law, in which she advocated for public trust in justice, noting the rise of domestic violence and child abuse in Kazakhstan. Tursynbekova in her election programme addressed proposals in judicial and legal reform, public security, democratisation and modernisation of political system, strengthening the institution of the family, social protection of the population, sustainable business support and economic development.

Nurlan Auesbaev

Main article: Nurlan Äuesbaev 2022 presidential campaign

Nurlan Auesbaev, the first and only registered candidate from the oppositional Nationwide Social Democratic Party since its founding, campaigned under motto of "Freedom. Justice. Solidarity!" (Kazakh: Еркіндік. Әділдік. Ынтымақ!), where he addressed issues for the past thirty years of Kazakhstan's independence primarily taking an aim of the COVID-19 pandemic impact and insisted the values of social democracy would solve the growing subsequent problems sparked by "oligarchs and foreign politicians". His electoral platform called for political reforms and increased fight against corruption beginning with the decentralisation of the executive branch by changing Kazakhstan's system of government from presidential to a semi-presidential republic with the lower chamber Mäjilis being responsible for the formation of a cabinet, abolishment of the Senate leading to a unicameral Parliament, increased mandates in the Mäjilis with its MP seats elected 50% proportionally and 50% from single-member districts, mandatory income declarations both for lawmakers and officials in every level, guaranteed support for media covering anti-corruption investigations, increasing sentencing for corruption crimes without parole. In an effort of combating oligarchy, Auesbaev voiced his support for assets held by "large businessmen" to be redistributed towards medium-sized entrepreneurs, "gradual nationalisation" of industries involved in natural resources, increased corporate taxes for large companies, breakup of the Samruk-Kazyna wealth fund into smaller state holdings, and a stricter anti-trust legislation. In terms of socioeconomic priorities, Auesbaev proposed improving the standard of living whilst taking into account of each citizen's need, healthcare and education being financed from state budget, construction of more schools and hospitals, revisal of housing programs, as well as police reforms. For international politics, Auesbaev expressed the need of Kazakhstan to stay out of "aggressive military blocs", promote nuclear disarmament and demilitarisation and increasing sovereignty through "moderate protectionism in strategic sectors" while maintaining status quo of neutrality.

Criticism and response by the opposition

Tokayev's decision on holding a snap presidential election faced criticism and backlash specifically from opposition groups. The unregistered Democratic Party of Kazakhstan in a statement expressed its opposition to snap elections to which it described as being "unconstitutional", and instead called for the presidential election to be held after political reforms have taken place as well as political prisoners in Kazakhstan being released. The Oyan, Qazaqstan civic movement refused to recognise the snap election including its outcome as being legitimate, criticising Tokayev of using "Nazarbayev's methods of seizing power" after his announcement of the presidential vote.

At the Coalition of Democratic Forces of Kazakhstan conference held in Almaty on 5 September 2022 which was attended by various opposition figures and civil activists, opposed in holding of snap presidential elections to which Rysbek Sarsenbai, brother of Altynbek Sarsenbayuly, at the meeting accused Tokayev's proposals as being "restoration of Nazarbayev's authoritarian regime". The Coalition of Democratic Forces pledged to hold protest rallies in response, although according to attendee Nūrjan Ältaev, it had not ruled out in potentially fielding an opposition candidate in case if their demands are not initially met.

Controversies

Forced campaign advertising

Current Time TV reported a scandal on 8 September 2022 in where Kazakh scholars at the L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University complained about being coerced by the university management and Ministry of Higher Education to positively promote President Tokayev's message about his reforms for fear of losing their jobs. The university denied the claims of forced advertising and stated that the allegations are "personal opinion". According to the director of the Alash Institute at the Eurasian National University Sultan Han Aqquly, the Higher Education Ministry introduced a "Proposal to the Media Plan" document that included the topic of the seminar, the name of a television channel that would broadcast it, as well as names of speakers. Sultan Han Aqquly described the impossibility of holding elections in conditions where the administrative resource is concentrated "in the hands of one of the candidates."

Internet and media blackouts

In late September 2022, a series of internet disruptions across Kazakhstan occurred. The incident coincided following an article published by the Public Eye which revealed President Tokayev's use of foreign money laundering in the ownership of oil and rare metal assets through his son, Kemel Tokayev. During that period, various independent Kazakh news sites faced trouble being accessed by users, to which the Kazakhtelecom in an official response on 25 September blamed the issue on allegedly being victimised by DDoS attacks incited from abroad. Just days later, users from several of Kazakhstan's regions in the early morning of 28 September complained about massive internet malfunctions, including reports of airline flight delays, while Kazakh telecommunication operators insisted that their networks were "operating normally" and the problems were "global". NetBlocks reported the internet connectivity in Kazakhstan falling 23% below normal levels and that the incident according to NetBlocks' executive director Alp Toker was "different from an internet outage". The State Technical Service of the National Security Committee described the issues as being cyberattacks by hackers targeting state bodies and internet infrastructure.

Several Kazakh journalists tied the latest internet disruptions and DDoS attacks on elections as a pressure and attempt of conveying information by the Kazakh government. Tokayev in a visit to the Abai Region on 30 September linked the cyberattacks to the upcoming polls, which he blamed on "external forces" attempting to "arrange a revolution within the country", with the Akorda press service being accused of blurring out the segment of Tokayev's "external forces" remarks in its website.

Conduct

2022 election advertisement poster in Russian, Astana

Elections in Kazakhstan are prepared and conducted and by various bodies of election commissions.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) during a meeting on 22 September 2022 addressed various issues regarding the approval of timetable for the election; organisation of activities by the observers of foreign states, international organisations, and foreign media representatives; as well as organisation of training for members of election commissions and other participants in the process for election preparation.

Public funding

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Erulan Jamaubaev shortly after the Tokayev's announcement initially ruled out billions of tenge being spent on snap elections. National Economy Minister Älibek Quantyrov insisted that the government had enough reserves funding for the election and that a budget request would be calculated from the Central Election Commission, which will be considered by the Ministry of Finance.

On 8 September 2022, it was reported by the Finance Ministry that 20 billion tenge would be spent on the presidential race and that the funding originally intended for the 2024 elections would come from the government budget. Sabila Mustafina, a member of the CEC, revealed that the exact cost of the election would amount to 20.5 billion tenge and that with formation of new regions and polling stations the CEC requested certain amount in purchase and replacement of the remaining ballot boxes. On 27 September, the allocation of reserve funds for the election were approved by the government.

Voter registration

By 1 July and 1 January every year, information on voters and the boundaries of polling stations are submitted by the akimats (local executive bodies) in electronic form to their territorial election commissions, which ensure the verification and submission of information to the higher election commissions. As of 1 July 2022, there were approximately 11,827,277 registered voters in Kazakhstan.

Voter registration in Kazakhstan is conducted by a local executive body from the moment of announcement or appointment of elections and are compiled within the voter list, which are based on place of residence in the territory of the given electoral district. The voter list for each polling station is approved by the akim (local head), who issues an ordinance twenty days (1 November 2022) before the election.

In order to vote absentee, a voter must notify the akimat no later than thirty days before the election by applying their current place of residence for inclusion in a voter list at a different polling station. CEC deputy chairman Konstantin Petrov had also advised citizens in case if no more than twenty days are left before the vote to receive an absentee ballot directly from the polling station and vote wherever it would be convenient on election day.

Observation

In the beginning of July 2022, a series of drafted amendments to the Constitutional Law "On Elections" were made public, which sparked controversy as one of the proposals according to various commentators would expand the powers of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and restrict the accreditation and polling station access of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that receive international funding which would in general lead to a loss of independent observation. The proposed amendments had also included restrictions on photo, audio and video recordings as they would be essentially required to comply by legislative acts to which in theory could limit the use of them at the polling observation. In response, Justice Minister Alma Mūqanova on 2 September explained the reasoning of the amendments were due to a need of an "institution of observation" to which the procedures would be "simplified as much as possible". She also ruled that the poll observers, including independent ones, during the election would be allowed to conduct photo and video shooting at the polling stations.

On 22 September 2022, the CEC opened the Institute for International Observation to which it sent invitations to 28 international organisations and foreign countries. On 17 October 2022, the first 43 representatives were accredited.

OSCE

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on 19 October 2022 opened its election observation mission in Astana. The mission, headed by Urszula Gacek, consisted of 11 international experts and 30 long-term observers which would be deployed in Kazakhstan starting 26 October and that an additional 300 short-term observers would arrive several days before polls open.

See also

• 2023 Kazakh legislative election