© Reuters. A voter casts her poll throughout a constitutional referendum at a polling station in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, June 5, 2022. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev
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ALMATY (Reuters) – Kazakhstan votes on a constitutional reform on Sunday promoted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as a step in the direction of liberalising the tightly-run oil-rich nation, though it could nonetheless depart key powers in his arms.
The reform is probably going to offer the 69-year-old Tokayev the political capital he must run for a second time period within the Central Asian nation carefully allied with Russia, this time with out the backing of his former patron and predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Though in energy since 2019, following Nazarbayev’s abrupt resignation after three a long time in energy, Tokayev has solely totally emerged as an impartial determine this yr after subverting an tried coup in January and eradicating Nazarbayev and his family from key positions within the authorities.
Except for strikes to decentralise decision-making and permit better illustration of assorted teams in parliament, the reform may also strip Nazarbayev of his “nationwide chief” standing which granted him lifetime privileges.
Tokayev has described the proposed modifications as a transfer from a “superpresidential” system to a presidential republic with a powerful parliament. Though critics say the reform is beauty, it does mark a reversal from a decades-long pattern in the direction of strengthening presidential powers.
“We’re… laying the muse for the Second Republic,” Tokayev mentioned, addressing the nation on the eve of the vote.
Analysts say the transfer is partly a response to January’s unrest which began as a protest in opposition to a gasoline worth hike and advanced right into a broad show of public discontent with a system which concentrates energy and wealth within the arms of some.
Tokayev has additionally known as for larger taxes on the profitable extractive industries and high-income people, saying social justice could be the cornerstone of a brand new social contract.
Addressing home coverage considerations would unlock the profession diplomat’s arms to cope with unprecedented exterior turbulence.
Caught between main financial and safety associate Russia and the West, which has invested lots of of billions of {dollars} into its large oilfields and mines, Kazakhstan is attempting to navigate a means by the Ukrainian disaster with out angering both facet.
