A newly formed pro-government party has won a large majority in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, three exit polls showed, in a result set to cement President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's power over the major energy and minerals exporter.
The exit polls, published by Kazakh state media, showed the Adilet party winning between 70 percent and 72 percent of the vote, with turnout above 74 percent.
Four small opposition parties also won seats, according to the polls.
Adilet was formed earlier this year by the president's top aides and swiftly absorbed the previously long-ruling Amanat party.
Sunday's election was triggered by the adoption of a new constitution earlier this year, which streamlines parliament from two chambers into one.
A former Soviet diplomat and top United Nations official, Tokayev has led Central Asia's largest economy since 2019, maintaining warm relations with the West, Russia and China.
One chamber
Kazakhstan's Supreme Court said last month that the new constitution allowed Tokayev to run for a fresh seven-year term.
Tokayev took office as the chosen successor of Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's founding president, who ruled from 1991 to 2019.
He broke with Nazarbayev after unrest in 2022 that Tokayev has described as a coup attempt by Nazarbayev allies.
Voting in the capital, Astana, Tokayev told journalists it was too early to say whether he would seek another term.
He also said he would announce his choice of vice president, an office created under the new constitution, within the next seven to 10 days, adding that the nominee would be a "well-known" person.
