The Kurultai, Kazakhstan’s new unicameral parliament, approved on Monday the appointment of Yerlan Karin as vice president of the Central Asian republic.
The office, which exists in the country for the first time in 30 years, was created under the new constitution approved in March.
Karin, presented by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was backed by 141 of the 145 members of the Kurultai.
Before presenting the vice president’s candidacy -a position that ceased to exist in 1996 and was restored by the new constitution- Tokayev held meetings with the heads of the parties that entered parliament following the legislative elections held a week ago.
According to the constitution, the vice president can assume the duties of the head of state in the event of the president’s early resignation, permanent inability to perform duties for health reasons, removal from office, or death.
Karin, 50, trained as a history and geography teacher before graduating in political science and philosophy.
The new vice president previously directed a political studies agency, served as an adviser to the prime minister, and worked in the Kazakh Presidential Administration, among other roles.
On August 23, Kazakhstan elected its new unicameral parliament, comprising 145 seats, of which the new ruling party won 110.
Representatives from five parties won seats in the Kurultai: the ruling party Adilet (Justice) won the majority with 71.17% of the vote; followed by Auyl with 10 seats; Respublica with 9; and the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan “Ak Zhol” and the National Social Democratic Party with 8 seats each. EFE