{"id":213329,"date":"2026-03-12T18:37:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/?p=213329"},"modified":"2026-03-12T19:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T18:15:08","slug":"tokayev-calls-for-massive-turnout-in-kazakhstans-constitutional-referendum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/en\/tokayev-calls-for-massive-turnout-in-kazakhstans-constitutional-referendum\/","title":{"rendered":"Tokayev calls for massive turnout in Kazakhstan\u2019s constitutional referendum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Astana, Mar 12 (EFE).- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev<\/strong> on Thursday called on citizens of the Central Asian republic to turn out in large numbers in Sunday\u2019s constitutional referendum<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to address all citizens, especially young people. This draft of a new constitution is primarily aimed at you,\u201d he said while addressing municipal lawmakers at a forum in Astana.<\/p>\n

Tokayev stressed that if it receives public support, the new constitution will allow the creation in the country of \u201ca new, more effective political system<\/strong> that will ensure long-term sustainable development.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Kazakhs vote \u201cyes\u201d on March 15, it will mark the largest constitutional reform since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.<\/p>\n

In this regard, he noted that the future unicameral parliament<\/strong>, the main reform proposal, will no longer include a \u201cpresidential quota,\u201d although some voices had advocated maintaining it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe that as it may, I believe that all lawmakers should be elected in the same way, without any exceptions or privileges,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The future parliament, the Kurultai<\/strong>, will see its powers expanded, which will also increase competitiveness and the \u201cspeed of the state\u2019s response to current challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also highlighted that the new constitution proposes preventing relatives of the president from holding political positions or posts close to the government, which, he argued, will constitute \u201ca reliable barrier against nepotism and the excessive concentration of power\u201d<\/strong> in a few hands.<\/p>\n

Regarding the 30 articles referring to fundamental rights, he stressed that the amendments now place emphasis \u201con the harm the state can cause to the individual,\u201d rather than the other way around.<\/p>\n

\"Kazakh <\/a>
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday called on citizens of the Central Asian republic to turn out in large numbers in Sunday\u2019s constitutional referendum. \u201cI want to address all citizens, especially young people. This draft of a new constitution is primarily aimed at you,\u201d he said while addressing municipal lawmakers at a forum in Astana. EFE\/Kazakh Presidency \/EDITORIAL USE ONLY\/AVAILABLE ONLY TO ILLUSTRATE THE ACCOMPANYING NEWS STORY (MANDATORY CREDIT) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Kazakh <\/a>
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday called on citizens of the Central Asian republic to turn out in large numbers in Sunday\u2019s constitutional referendum. \u201cI want to address all citizens, especially young people. This draft of a new constitution is primarily aimed at you,\u201d he said while addressing municipal lawmakers at a forum in Astana. EFE\/Kazakh Presidency \/EDITORIAL USE ONLY\/AVAILABLE ONLY TO ILLUSTRATE THE ACCOMPANYING NEWS STORY (MANDATORY CREDIT) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Toward democratization or toward the Russian model?<\/h2>\n

When calling the referendum on Feb. 11, Tokayev said that \u201cKazakhstan is finally leaving behind the super-presidential model and moving toward a presidential republic<\/strong> with a respected and influential parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tokayev, who came to power in 2019, replacing Kazakhstan\u2019s founding leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, argues that granting greater powers to the new parliament could be an important step toward deepening democratization in Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n

However, some analysts linked to the opposition and foreign observers believe that after the reform, the largest Central Asian republic will resemble other authoritarian countries in the post-Soviet space, such as Russia, Belarus, or Azerbaijan, as it consolidates presidential power rather than contributing to the separation of powers.<\/p>\n

According to critics, the constitution will strengthen the powers of the president, who will now also appoint the heads of the Supreme Court, the Electoral Commission, the Court of Auditors, the State Security Service, and the human rights commissioner.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The president will also be able to dissolve parliament if the chamber rejects his proposed candidates twice.<\/p>\n

Opponents of the constitutional reform also warn that the new charter paves the way for a possible future extension of the presidential term<\/strong>, as has occurred in countries such as Russia.<\/p>\n

As with the referendum held in 2024 on the use of nuclear energy, the opposition has criticized the lack of public debate and denounced obstacles faced by the press and polling companies in the weeks leading up to the plebiscite. EFE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Astana, Mar 12 (EFE).- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday called on citizens of the Central Asian republic to turn out in large numbers in Sunday\u2019s constitutional referendum. \u201cI want […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198164071,"featured_media":213330,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[123779],"tags":[124572,124444],"class_list":["post-213329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-kassym-jomart-tokayev","tag-kazakhstan"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTokayev calls on Kazakhs to vote in 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