Referendum on amendments to the constitution of Kazakhstan. File photoNUR-SULTAN, June 5The turnout at the constitutional referendum in Kazakhstan after the closure of all polling stations located in the republic, according to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission, was 68.44%, CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman said. presidential powers, strengthening other branches of government and increasing the role of citizens in the process of government.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan spoke about the voting of compatriots abroad «In total, 11,734,642 citizens are included in the lists of citizens eligible to participate in the referendum. Ballots were received by 8,030,739 citizens, which is 68.44% of the number included in the voting lists» , — Yerman said at a briefing at the CEC. According to him, at 22.00 Nur-Sultan time (19.00 Moscow time), voting ended in all sections of the country and in 25 foreign polling stations. Voting is still ongoing at 40 polling stations in foreign countries. «Referendum commissions start counting votes, we expect the protocols of territorial commissions to be received in electronic form tomorrow,» he explained. According to the CEC, the highest voter turnout in the Turkestan region (80.66% ), the lowest level in Alma-Ata (33.30%). Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously stated that the coup attempt in January 2022 confirmed the need for an early political modernization of the country, in connection with which the amendments to the basic law were submitted to a referendum. The amendments are designed to consolidate the final transition from a «super-presidential» form of government to a presidential republic with an influential parliament and an accountable government. To this end, the amendments reduce the excessive concentration of presidential powers. In particular, the participation of the head of state in the formation of the upper house of parliament is reduced, his influence on local representative and executive bodies is limited. In addition, a ban is established on the head of state's membership in political parties for the period of the presidency. Similar requirements will apply to chairmen and members of the CEC, the counting committee, heads of regions and their deputies. The amendments also prohibit close relatives of the head of state from occupying leadership positions in state and quasi-state structures. A number of amendments are aimed at respecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, including the creation of a constitutional court, the consolidation of the status of an ombudsman at the constitutional level and an unconditional ban on the death penalty. In addition, the updated constitution will exclude any mention of the status, powers and privileges of the first president of the country.
