The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. File photoALMA-ATA, June 8Changes and additions to the constitution of Kazakhstan, supported by the citizens of the country in a referendum on June 5, entered into force. According to the final data of the CEC, 77.18% of voters supported the amendments to the constitution. As Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic Nurlan Abdirov said earlier, the adopted amendments come into force from the day the official announcement of the results of the referendum is published.» The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On Amendments and Additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan», submitted to the republican referendum on June 5, 2022, is considered accepted, since more than half of the citizens who took part in the voting voted for a positive decision in at least two-thirds of the regions, cities of republican significance and the capital,» the Central Election Commission said in a statement published on Wednesday in the official press. President of Kazakhstan Kassym- Zhomart 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 amendments to the basic law were put to a referendum.
Amendments to the Constitution of Kazakhstan supported by 77.18 percent of votersThe 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 excludes mention of the status, powers and privileges of the country's first president.
