Eldest daughter of retiring leader lined up for presidential bid

The eldest daughter of Kazakhstan’s outgoing long-time leader has been appointed speaker of parliament, fuelling speculation she may succeed her father as president after next year’s election.

Her appointment comes a day after her father, Nursultan Nazarbayev, 78, surprised many by announcing he was resigning after nearly 30 years in office – all of Kazakhstan’s time as an independent nation. Mr Nazarbayev said that it was time for a new generation to rule.

Though Kassym-jomart Tokayev, speaker of the upper chamber of parliament, was officially sworn in as interim president yesterday, Mr Nazarbayev will probably continue to wield considerable influence in the oil-rich country, as he remains chairman of the security council and leader of the ruling party. The question of who will succeed him permanently is still open.

Mr Tokayev’s suggestion at his swearing-in ceremony that the country’s capital, Astana, be renamed Nursultan to honour the country’s first and only president indicates that Mr Nazarbayev will retain an unrivalled position as the nation’s leader even after his resignation. The parliament promptly approved the name change.

That was further evidenced by the Kazakh Senate then voting to appoint Mr Nazarbayev’s eldest daughter, Dariga Nazarbayeva, 55, as the new speaker, making her the second most senior official in the country.

Lawmaker Byrganym Aytimova, in comments on the Tengri News website, credited her for “an impeccable attitude to the law, democratisation of our country and access to information”.

Rumours about the resignation of Mr Nazarbayev – who holds the honorary title of “Leader of the Nation” – and a possible plan for succession have been swirling for years. Speculation was rife the president might be grooming his daughter, who has served as deputy prime minister, for the role. But Mr Nazarbayev has not indicated he has a successor in mind.

The surprise vote to name Ms Nazarbayeva – who kept a low profile after she left the government in 2016 – as speaker has led many to believe she is going to be a leading contender in the 2020 presidential election.

Independent Central Asia analyst Arkady Dubnov said Ms Nazarbayeva was “sending everyone a message that his daughter is getting ready to run”.

Theeldestofmrnazarbayev’s three daughters, Dariga has faced several corruption scandals and is divorced, which is something that may raise eyebrows in traditionally-minded Kazakhstan during a presidential campaign.

Her father took the helm in Kazakhstan in 1989.