Kazakh voters back constitutional overhaul, exit polls show

"Under the new constitution: the office of vice president, abolished in 1996, is to be recreated the president is to be given authority to appoint the vice president the head of state would also appoint top officials such as the heads of the central bank, the intelligence services and the constitutional court the senate, which used to approve top appointments, is to be abolished."

"a new single-chamber assembly called the Kurultai is to be created the president is to be able to dissolve assembly and rule by executive orders if the parliament refuses to approve presidential nominees to key posts twice regulations around freedom of speech are to be tightened, saying it must not 'undermine the morality of society or violate public order'"

"Experts say the changes could allow Tokayev to reset presidential term limits or install a successor through the vice presidency. Currently, the president is limited to a single seven-year term, a rule introduced in 2022."

Kazakhstan held a referendum on a new constitution that received approximately 87% voter approval with 73% turnout. The reforms substantially increase presidential authority by recreating the vice presidency as a presidential appointment, allowing the president to directly appoint top officials including central bank and intelligence service heads, and abolishing the senate's approval role. A new single-chamber parliament called the Kurultai replaces the previous system, and the president gains power to dissolve it and rule by executive order if nominees are rejected twice. Freedom of speech regulations are tightened with new restrictions. Critics argue these changes could allow President Tokayev to circumvent term limits or install a successor, fundamentally reshaping Kazakhstan's governance structure.

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