Kazakhstan approves new constitution in referendum

Kazakh voters approved a new constitution in a referendum on Sunday that may allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond the current term limit of 2029, according to exit polls. Around 87% of voters backed the new constitution with a turnout of 73%, as reported by both Reuters and AP News.

The new constitution streamlines Kazakhstan's parliament into a single chamber and reintroduces the office of vice president, which was abolished in 1996. The president will have the authority to appoint key officials, including the vice president. This constitutional change follows Tokayev's initiative for swift drafting, prompting analysts to suggest that he may be looking to anoint a successor as vice president or stay in his post with term limits reset.

Both the old and new constitutions limit presidents to one seven-year term, a restriction introduced by Tokayev in 2022. Despite this, some observers speculate that the new constitution could reset presidential term limits, allowing Tokayev to remain in power beyond 2029. This tactic has been used by leaders of several other ex-Soviet republics, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Opposition to the constitutional rewrite was marginal and subdued. State-approved pollsters showed large majorities in favor of the new document. In a rare public statement, former president Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed his support for Tokayev and the new constitution. The vote comes at a challenging time for Kazakhstan, with economic growth accelerating but inflation reaching 11.7% in February.