Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emerged, as expected, the clear winner of Kazakhstan's presidential election on Sunday, months after deadly unrest.
As was widely expected, three exit polls gave him between 82.2 per cent and 85.5 per cent of the vote.
Mr Tokayev's five opponents were no real competition, despite posters during the election calling on voters to "make their choice" for the next seven years.
The runner-up managed only 5.2 per cent of the vote, exit polls showed.
The electoral commission gave an estimated turnout of 69 per cent among the 12 million eligible voters.
"The people have clearly expressed their confidence in me and we have to justify it," Mr Tokayev, 69, said as the results emerged.
Rich in natural resources and at the crossroads of important trade routes, Kazakhstan sank into chaos during protests over high living costs in January, which left 238 dead.
Mr Tokayev — once a steady hand even if generally considered to be lacking charisma — showed a ruthless side this year by suppressing the protests.
While Kazakhstan has since stabilised, tension persists, as shown by the arrest on Thursday of seven opposition supporters accused of an attempted coup.
Police on Sunday detained about 15 protesters demanding free and fair elections in the country's largest city Almaty, AFP reported.
Sunday's election was a chance for Mr Tokayev to consolidate his grip on power.
Hoping to turn over a new leaf after a turbulent year, he said he was seeking a "new mandate of trust from the people" in this election.
"The main thing is that there is no monopoly of power," Mr Tokayev said after voting early on Sunday in the capital Astana.
Voters took selfies in front of the polling stations in Astana and Almaty, and many said they would be "required" to show such photos when they returned to work on Monday.
Critics are still sidelined and all five of Mr Tokayev's competitors are virtually unknown.
This left student Alya Bokechova, 19, thinking that going to the polls "would be a waste of time".
"We already know who will win and we don't know the other candidates," Ms Bokechova told AFP.
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe criticised Kazakhstan's failure to meet electoral recommendations, including "conditions of eligibility and registration of candidates".
But Mr Tokayev's promises of democratic and economic reforms resonated with some voters.
"Since independence 30 years ago, almost nothing changed. I would like to see some significant changes," police officer Nurlan N said.
Casting her ballot in Almaty, pensioner Murzada Massalina, 68, said: "Tokayev is the suitable candidate because he has a lot of experience."
Mr Tokayev came to power in 2019 after winning 70 per cent of the vote. That election result was inevitable after he obtained the backing of former ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev.
For the next two-and-a-half years, he played a role of loyal protege.
But after the protests erupted in January, Mr Tokayev ordered police to "shoot to kill" demonstrators.
He distanced himself from his former mentor, purged his clan from positions of authority and promised a "new and just Kazakhstan".
Mr Tokayev announced reforms, a constitutional referendum and introduced single presidential terms of seven years.
Mr Nazarbayev, who led Kazakhstan for three decades, was the first to congratulate him on his re-election. It was, he said, "unquestionable proof of the people's unshakeable faith in [his) reforms".
He praised Mr Tokayev's attitude "at critical times" for the country, a reference to the events earlier this year.
Mr Tokayev also stood up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine shocked former Soviet republics.
The offensive reawakened Kazakh concerns that Moscow may have ambitions on the north of the country, home to three million ethnic Russians.
In response, Mr Tokayev strengthened his country's ties with China and Europe.
The leaders of Turkey and China visited Kazakhstan, as did high-ranking European officials and Pope Francis this year.
Mr Tokayev clashed with Mr Putin on a visit to Saint Petersburg in June.
Moscow's move to recognise Ukrainian separatist regions — that it has since claimed to annex — would "lead to chaos", he said.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 3 (Kroos 4', Ramos 30', Marcelo 37')
Eibar 1 (Bigas 60')
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
