Kazakhstan to hold snap presidential election in June

Kazakhstan’s interim president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called a snap presidential election for June 9 on Tuesday. His ratings are likely to benefit from public sector pay raises in June and other welfare initiatives, Reuters said. “In order to secure social and political accord, confidently move forward, and deal with socio-economic development tasks, it is necessary to eliminate any uncertainty,” Tokayev, 65, said in a televised address to the nation. The former speaker of parliament’s upper chamber assumed the presidency last month after the resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had run the ex-Soviet republic for almost three decades. Nazarbayev, 78, remains the “national leader” in the country of 18 million and is the chair of its security council and head of the ruling Nur Otan party.