Kazakh’s daughter chosen for key post
MOSCOW — Dariga Nazarbayeva, the eldest daughter of Kazakhstan’s departed leader, was appointed speaker of parliament on Wednesday, fueling speculation that she will try to succeed her father as president after next year’s election.
The appointment came a day after 78-year-old Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned after nearly 30 years in office — all of Kazakhstan’s time as an independent nation. Nazarbayev said 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 on Wednesday, Nazarbayev will likely continue to wield considerable influence in the oilrich country as he remains chairman of the security council and leader of the ruling party. The question of who will succeed him is, however, still open.
As the new speaker, Nazarbayeva will be the second-most-senior official in the country.
The surprise vote to name the 55-year-old 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. Nazarbayeva has faced several corruption scandals and a divorce, which is something that may raise eyebrows in traditionally minded Kazakhstan during a presidential campaign.