Referendum on amendments to the Constitution of KazakhstanALMA-ATA, June 5In Kazakhstan, most voting stations for the referendum on amendments to the Constitution were closed. In five regions — West Kazakhstan, Atyrau, Aktobe, Mangistau and Kyzylorda — due to the time difference, they will close an hour later. As of 18:00 (on time of Nur-Sultan) turnout was 65.04 percent. A referendum is considered valid if more than half of the voters took part in it. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed amending the basic law after the January coup attempt. According to him, this incident confirmed the need for an early political modernization of the country.
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The referendum is intended to consolidate the final transition of Kazakhstan from a super-presidential form of government to a presidential one. In particular, it is planned to reduce the participation of the president in the formation of the upper house of parliament, limit his influence on local representative and executive bodies, establish a ban on his membership in political parties during the presidency. In addition, close relatives of the head of state will be banned from holding leadership positions in state and quasi-state structures. Some amendments concern the rights and freedoms of citizens: they provide for the creation of a constitutional court, the consolidation of the status of an ombudsman and an unconditional ban on the death penalty. References to the status, powers and privileges of the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, will also be excluded from the updated Constitution. wp-content/uploads/2022/06/e502f790e9b55736f8a3a49b3995b6eb.jpg» />The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan spoke about the voting of compatriots abroad