KAZAKHSTAN-President Calls Early Election For 20 Nov

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called an early presidential election to take place on 20 November according to Russian state news outlet TASS.

• The election comes after Tokayev announced changes to the presidency that will see office holders allowed to serve one single seven-year term in office.
• Earlier this year Kazakhstan saw mass protests sparked by rising fuel prices, but also opposed to the continued influence of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Kazakh political life. Following this, Nazarbayev left his position as chairman of the Security Council.
• Hydrocarbon-rich Kazakhstan continues to be courted by both Russia and China in the great powers' efforts to bolster/increase their influence in Central Asia. Moscow sees Kazakhstan as within its historical sphere of influence and sent troops to assist Kazakh gov't in January. But Beijing has been seeking to become a larger purchaser of Kazakh oil in recent years, and play greater role in infrastructure construction.
• Tokayev likely to win re-election comfortably given the lack of effective and organised political opposition in Kazakhstan.