Astana, Kazakhstan - Citizens in energy-rich Kazakhstan will head to the polls Sunday for early elections almost certain to extend the quarter-century rule of incumbent 74-year-old President Nursultan Nazarbayev by another five years.
Few doubt that the snap vote - which takes place amid economic uncertainty connected to low oil prices and the weakened ruble in neighbouring Russia - will reconfirm Nazarbayev's mandate to rule the country he has controlled with limited opposition since before independence.
His marginalised opponents have not offered any candidates for the vote but Nazarbayev will face two other candidates, both of whom are widely seen as pro-government figures.
Turgun Syzdykov, a 68-year-old former provincial official who has campaigned on an anti-globalisation platform, railing against Hollywood, hamburgers and computer games, will represent the country's communist party.
Abelgazy Kusainov, 63, who has held several ministerial positions and currently heads the national federation of trade unions is running as an independent. Kusainov's campaign has touched on environmental problems in the country.
In its interim report on the vote, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe raised concerns about Nazarbayev's "institutional advantage."
While Nazarbayev's posters and billboards are "visible throughout the country," "almost no campaign materials have been observed for the other two candidates," the OSCE said.
Nazarbayev, who is standing for the ruling Nur Otan party enjoys high levels of public approval for helping transform the country economically and generally maintaining inter-ethnic harmony in the diverse majority-Muslim country.
AFP
