Kazakhstanis voted overwhelmingly in favor of constitutional changes in a referendum led by President Kasim-Jomart Tokayev.
Voters in Kazakhstan backed constitutional amendments proposed by President Kasim-Jomart Tokayev in a referendum on June 5th, the Central Election Commission said on Monday.
It says 77.18 per cent of the vote is in favor of the amendments, which decentralize decision-making and deprive former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev of his status as “national leader”. The total turnout was 68.06 percent.
“The referendum can be considered validated,” said election commission chairman Nurlan Abdirov.
Even after stepping down as president, Nazarbayev retained the constitutional title of Elbasi or Leader of the Nation, a role that has given him influence in policy-making, regardless of his official position.
The new constitution will exclude this status.
Another amendment does not allow the president’s relatives to hold public office – a clear sign of the influence of Nazarbayev’s family and parents, who lost power after the violence.
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