Acting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became the presidential nominee for the ruling Nur Otan on 23 April 2019. He received backing from his predecessor and the party's chairman Nursultan Nazarbayev, calling him the "worthiest candidate." On 3 May 2019, Tokayev was officially registered by the Central Election Commission and from evening 11 May, he launched his election campaign where all the platforms were announced on the website with the slogan "Игілік баршаға" (Wellbeing for all).
Programs
Platforms
On 11 May 2019, Tokayev's campaign unveiled platforms in the official website where were divided into three sections as it follows:
Continuity
Public unity
Increase in wage and quality of life
Rigorous implementation social programs by Elbasy and their further development
Increasing our achievements part to the economic growth
Justice
Supreme law and justified courts
Public safety
Eradication of corruption
Effective system of social support
High quality and general access to medicine
Modern standardized education for all
Employment and creation of new jobs
Effective government leadership
Progress
Dynamic economy
Livable and modernized villages
Successful entrepreneurship
Effective financial system
First-class infrastructure
Affordable and clean ecology
Progressiveness in Kazakhstan in modern era
Transformation of political system
Support for the young
Foreign policy
As a politician, Tokayev had wide experience in foreign affairs by serving as Foreign Minister, State Secretary and the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. He announced the intention in firmly promote and defend national interests in the world arena as well as strengthen relations with every country.
He also expressed strong support for Russia, calling it a "strategic ally" where he vowed to maintain relations as Nursultan Nazarbayev did.
Economic policy
Tokayev promised for sustainable economic growth rates for Kazakhstan's to reach into the 30 most developed countries. He also supported the taxation system to be simplified through the optimization and unification of taxes. The level of the shadow economy is planned to be reduced to the level of the OECD countries - 15-17%.
Campaign
Tokayev visited several regions and cities in his campaign. A well-known businessman and MP of the regional mäslihat from the East Kazakhstan Region Erzhan Nurbaev urged residents of the Altai District to support the candidacy of Tokayev's in the upcoming presidential elections.
Tokayev was mocked on social media for the overuse of modification of his official photos, erasing his wrinkles and double chin.