"Faith in something strengthens"
In the recently concluded presidential elections in Kazakhstan, a significant change in voting patterns was observed. The incumbent president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emerged as the preferred choice for a segment of opposition voters.
Marat Bashimov, director of the "European Institute of Law," considers the elections to have been held at a high level, with good organization contributing to the level of trust. Bashimov believes the high turnout in the elections is evidence of the voters' passion about the future of Kazakhstan and their children.
Historian and head of the "Rukhani Janghyru" center, Zhana Buakanova, highlights the extremely high turnout in the newly formed regions. Buakanova attributes this to the creation of new regions instilling a sense of strength, faith in positive changes, and patriotism among the people.
Political analyst Zhanna Tulindinova believes that those who voted for an opposition candidate in the previous presidential elections have now switched to supporting Tokayev. Tulindinova notes that Tokayev openly acknowledges the flaws and vices of the previous system, effectively positioning himself as both the power and the opposition in some ways.
Tokayev's election platform was simple and easy for people to understand, according to Tulindinova, citing a preliminary poll of voters. The president's promise of reforms while maintaining continuity in governance, his moderate political stance, and concerns for stability among voters likely played a significant role in the shift of opposition support.
Measures were put in place to allow even those whose names were not on the voter lists to cast their ballots, including the creation of 23 polling stations in Astana. Bashimov notes the significant attention given to ensuring the rights of all social groups during the elections.
Zhana Buakanova also emphasises the importance of addressing the most pressing issues, with Tokayev offering an alternative that addresses these concerns. Bashimov himself voted with his family, expressing his concern for the country's future.
While the search results do not explicitly analyze the detailed voter psychology or the full sociopolitical context behind the opposition switch in Kazakhstan, such patterns are common in regimes where opposition parties lack cohesion and genuine electoral alternatives are limited, aligning with the broader political environment in Central Asia.
- Political analyst Zhanna Tulindinova posits that the shift of opposition support towards Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in the recent Kazakhstan presidential elections might be due to his election platform promising reforms while maintaining continuity in governance, his moderate political stance, and his open acknowledgement of the flaws and vices of the previous system.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news, the high turnout in the elections and the switch of some opposition voters to support Tokayev can be linked to his simple and understandable election platform, as well as his positioning as both the power and the opposition in certain ways.
