Kazakhstan's recent referendum resulting in over 80% constitutional changes strengthens presidential power, including the ability to appoint key officials, despite a stated shift towards a parliamentary republic.
In Kazakhstan, government officials announced that voter turnout in the recent referendum surpassed 73%. Despite President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's assertion that the constitutional changes would transition the country from a super-presidential form of governance to a presidential republic with a strong parliament, the reality indicates a significant expansion of presidential powers. The amendments affect over 80% of the constitution and include alterations to 77 articles.
A prominent change is the restructuring of the parliament from a bicameral to a unicameral legislature. Additionally, under the new amendments, the president gains the authority to appoint high-ranking officials, such as the heads of the central bank, intelligence agency, and constitutional court. This consolidation of power raises concerns regarding the balance of political authority in Kazakhstan and the prospects for genuine political reform.
One of the most contentious aspects of the amendments is the further restriction of freedom of speech, which stipulates that such freedoms must not threaten public morality or disturb social order. Reports emerged during the voting about detained journalists seeking to gauge voter opinion, further highlighting the repression of independent media and public discourse in the country. Overall, these developments suggest a troubling trend toward authoritarian governance despite the official narrative of reform.
