TEHRAN, Jun 6 - Kazakhstan's interim president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, looks set to be confirmed in the job in Sunday's election after being hand-picked for the post by former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev who ran the country for almost three decades.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Tokayev, who took over after Nazarbayev resigned in March, is the only heavyweight candidate in the presidential election. Six others have been unfamiliar faces to most Kazakhs until launching their brief campaigns last month.
There are no opposition parties in the Kazakh parliament and Western observers have never recognized elections in Kazakhstan - which Nazarbayev used to routinely win with over 90 percent of the vote - as free and fair.
Tokayev, a 66-year-old career diplomat, is regarded by many Kazakhs as a safe pair of hands to take over the former Soviet republic, which is rich in oil resources and lies sandwiched between Russia and China. Tokayev was educated in Moscow and is a China expert.
"He can be trusted to honor contracts with oil majors, which is the most important thing," said a Kazakh businessman with interests in the energy sector.
Although Nazarbayev, 78, resigned as president, he is set to retain sweeping powers as "Yelbasy" - head of the nation - as well as leader of the security council and of the ruling Nur Otan party. The country of 18 million people will likely see a period of continuity as long as he is alive and well.
Nazarbayev's family, which has amassed wealth and power during his rule, is also there to stay.
Source: Reuters
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