Kazakhs vote overwhelmingly in favor of constitutional changes in a referendum led by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Kazakhstan voters have backed constitutional amendments proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a June 5 referendum, the Central Election Commission said on Monday.
He said 77.18 percent of the vote was in favor of amendments that decentralize decision-making and deprive former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev of his “national leader” status. The total share stood at 68.06 percent.
“The referendum can be considered validated,” said the chairman of the electoral commission, Nurlan Abdirov.
Even after resigning as president, Nazarbayev retained the constitutional title of “Elbasy” or “Leader of the Nation,” a role that allowed him to influence policy-making regardless of his formal position.
The new constitution will exclude this status.
Another amendment prevents the president’s relatives from holding government office, a clear look at the influence of Nazarbayev’s family and in-laws, who lost powerful positions as a result of the violence.
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