New Kazakhstan constitution takes effect as political transition gathers pace

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is ushering in a new era with a revamped constitution, promising a fundamental reshaping of the Central Asian nation. The new basic law, approved by referendum in March, officially takes effect on Wednesday. It introduces a new position of vice-president and calls for a snap election in August to a smaller, newly formed parliament.

Tokayev, who is limited to a single term ending in 2029, declared to parliament on Tuesday his intention to "carry out a major overhaul of the foundation of Kazakh statehood." This move comes after a period of significant political upheaval, including nationwide unrest in 2022 that Tokayev attributed to a coup attempt by allies of his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

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We intend to carry out a major overhaul of the foundation of Kazakh statehood, the foundation and load-bearing structures of the country's independence.

The new constitution is seen by analysts as a "new mechanism for handing over power from the second president to the third." Tokayev has systematically worked to erode Nazarbayev's influence since their relationship soured. This includes the recent merger of the ruling Amanat party, founded by Nazarbayev, into a party led by Tokayev's close aides. The changes aim to consolidate power and signal a definitive break from the Nazarbayev era, which Tokayev has characterized as rife with corruption.

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a new mechanism for handing over power from the second president to the third