Key facts
- Kazakhstan's ruling Amanat party is merging with the Adilet party, formed by allies of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
- The merger is set to occur ahead of anticipated parliamentary elections in August.
- Amanat has been the dominant political force in Kazakhstan since 1999.
- The Adilet party is seen as directly loyal to President Tokayev.
- The move is part of a broader political overhaul in Kazakhstan, with Tokayev's term ending in 2029.
Kazakhstan's ruling Amanat party announced on Friday that it will merge with the Adilet party, a group formed earlier this year by allies of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The consolidation is expected to bolster Tokayev's political standing ahead of anticipated parliamentary elections in August.
Amanat, which has historically secured large parliamentary majorities, will become part of the Adilet party, meaning "Justice" in Kazakh. This move is part of a significant overhaul of Kazakhstan's tightly controlled political system, with President Tokayev scheduled to step down when his term concludes in 2029.
Analysts view the recent approval of a new constitution in March as a preparatory step for an eventual power handover. The Adilet party is widely perceived as being directly loyal to Tokayev, with top presidential aides among its leadership. Amanat itself was established in 1999 under the auspices of then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019.