NEW YORK. KazUnite – Kazakhstan to Hold Republican Referendum on the adoption of amendments and additions to the Constitution. On May 05, 2022, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the document that leads to the implementation of a new reform in Kazakhstan.
A package of reforms aimed at severe political modernization. Referendum mainly proposed amendments that will lead to that the land and its subsoil will belong to the people of Kazakhstan; Relatives of the president are prohibited from holding high government positions; Kazakhstan will move from a super-presidential form of government to a presidential republic with a strong parliament; Kazakhstanis will be able to appeal to the Constitutional Court independently; there will be no death penalty in the country; The Majilis deputy corps will be formed according to the mixed electoral system; The presidential quota in the Senate will be reduced, the quota of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan in the Majilis will be abolished; The majority system will allow recalling a deputy at the request of voter; The provisions on the special role and privileges of the first president owned are excluded.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the amendments that can be made to the Constitution are inextricably linked. So, there will be only one question in the ballot box during the vote. The voter answers “yes” or “no” to the only question asked. There will be no separate questions regarding each of the 56 reforms under Article 33.
The last referendum in Kazakhstan was held 27 years ago, in 1995.
According to some deputies and political activists, this referendum allows the people to intervene in the future of the country.
If more than 50% of participants vote for Amendments and additions to Constitution, the amendments will be adopted. It will take place on June 5, 2022.