ALMATY, Kazakhstan (Dispatches) -- Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was 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.
None of Tokayev’s five opponents 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 6 9 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.
While Kazakhstan has since stabilized, tensions persist, as shown by the arrest last week of seven opposition supporters accused of an attempted coup.
Hoping to turn over a new leaf after a turbulent year, Tokayev had said he was seeking a “new mandate of trust from the people” in this election.
After voting early on Sunday in the capital Astana, he said “the main thing is that there is no monopoly of power”.
Tokayev came to power in 2019 after winning 70 percent of the vote after he obtained the backing of former ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev.
For the following two-and-a-half years, he played a role of loyal protege.
Tokayev distanced himself from his former mentor Nazarbayev, purged his clan from positions of authority and promised a “new and just Kazakhstan”.
He announced reforms, a constitutional referendum and introduced single presidential terms of seven years.
Nazarbayev, who led Kazakhstan for three decades, was the first to congratulate Tokayev on his re-election. It was, he said, “unquestionable proof of the people’s unshakeable faith in (his) reforms”.
Nazarbayev praised his attitude “at critical times” for the country, a reference to the events earlier this year.
Tokayev also stood up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the Ukraine war shocked former Soviet republics.
In response, Tokayev strengthened his country’s ties not only with China, but also with Europe.
Putin on Monday congratulated Tokayev, saying “You have received a convincing mandate of trust from fellow citizens, which opens up new opportunities for the implementation of the course of national development that you are advancing”.