Kazakhstan’s ruling Nur-Otan party has claimed all 16 seats available in today’s election to the Senate, or upper house of parliament.
This was not a popular election, as the new deputies were chosen by regional and provincial officials as well as MPs from the Mazhilis, or lower house of parliament, rather than by the country’s electorate. The lower house is comprised entirely of Nur-Otan members.
Each of Kazakhstan’s 14 provinces plus the two major cities, Astana and Almaty, are represented by two senators. Senate members serve six-year terms, with elections for half those seats being held every three years.
Kazakhstan’s president appoints the other 15 senators.
