Kazakhstan’s new constitution affirms the president’s grip on powers approved in a referendum

A new constitution strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s grip on power in Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest nation, won overwhelming approval in a referendum, according to preliminary results released Monday.

More than 87% of respondents in a Sunday poll by the country’s Central Election Commission supported constitutional changes that would merge Kazakhstan’s two chambers of parliament into one and give the president the right to appoint key government officials with parliament’s approval, including the restoration of the post of vice president. 73 percent voting.

The constitutional changes also envisage the creation of a new body, the People’s Council, alongside Parliament, with powers to initiate legislation and referenda. Its members are appointed entirely by the President.

Tokayev initiated the second constitutional change in four years and some observers say it could pave the way for him to retain power after his term ends.

Tokayev, 72, a former Soviet official and Kazakh diplomat who previously served at the UN, is currently limited to a seven-year term until 2029. Analysts believe Tokayev may use the referendum to reset presidential term limits. Leaders of several former Soviet republics, including Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, have previously used new or amended constitutions to revise legislative term limits.

The new constitution stipulates that marriage is no longer the union of two persons, but rather the union of a man and a woman. Analysts say the provision was introduced in the new constitution as a follow-up to a law banning what authorities see as “promotion” of LGBTQ+ relationships.

Tokayev, who has maintained a delicate balance between Moscow and the West since imposing sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, describes the constitutional changes as a response to the need to make quick decisions in a rapidly changing world.

“This step is of extraordinary importance, especially in the current period when the geopolitical situation is unstable and challenges and threats to national security are becoming more apparent,” Tokayev said last week.

The opposition in Kazakhstan is not represented in government structures and has been unable to significantly influence public sentiment since the referendum was announced months ago.

The vote comes at a tough time for Kazakhstan, where inflation reached 11.7% in February and tax hikes have fueled public discontent.

Analysts say economic problems could trigger a new wave of protests similar to nationwide unrest in 2022, triggered by rising fuel prices, in which dozens of protesters and police have been killed – as Tokayev seeks to contain by consolidating power in his hands.