Kazakh leader proposes referendum on constitutional reform

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivers a speech throughout a competition marking Nauryz, an historical vacation celebrating the spring equinox, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 21, 2022. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev

NUR-SULTAN, April 29 (Reuters) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed holding a referendum on constitutional reform, his workplace mentioned on Friday, as an alternative of operating the amendments via parliament.

Tokayev has this yr proposed various modifications to the structure that may decentralise decision-making within the oil-rich Central Asian nation.

On Friday, he mentioned that as a result of the proposals would change one-third of the structure, it might make extra sense for residents to vote on them straight.

Tokayev didn’t say when the referendum might be held.

The previous Soviet republic final held a referendum in 1995 when it adopted its present structure, which was subsequently amended repeatedly by parliament.

Elected president in 2019, Tokayev bolstered his place this yr by sidelining his predecessor and former patron Nursultan Nazarbayev. He then introduced plans for a broad vary of reforms that may usher in a “second republic”.

Reporting by Tamara Vaal
Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; modifying by John Stonestreet

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