Kazakhstan to hold early presidential election on June 9

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Kazakhstan's interim president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called a snap presidential election on Tuesday, citing the need to eliminate political uncertainty in the oil-rich Central Asian nation.

The election will take place on June 9, Tokayev said in a televised address to the nation.

In a televised address to the nation, Tokayev said he had consulted with former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, known as "Elbasy" or "Leader of the Nation" in Kazakh, and other top officials before making the decision.

"We must continue to work on the implementation of the strategy of Elbasy," Tokayev said.

"This can be done only by the direct expression of the will of the people... As the acting head of state, I guarantee that the elections will be held honestly, openly and fairly."

Tokayev did not immediately say whether he would run and speculation is rife in Kazakhstan about who might take Nazarbayev's place.

Tokayev is seen as a potential frontrunner, as is Nazarbayev's daughter Dariga, who replaced Tokayev as leader of the Senate when he assumed the presidency. She was among those he said he had consulted before calling the vote.

(Cover image via Reuters: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev takes the oath after he assumed the post of Kazakhstan's President during a joint session of the houses of parliament in Astana, Kazakhstan March 20, 2019.)

(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)