Kazakh leader says one-time presidency to modernize society, state
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said that if a one-time presidential term for seven years is introduced in Kazakhstan, this will ensure quality and dynamics to the modernization of society and the state.
He made the remarks at a public headquarters in support of his candidacy in the presidential elections on October 26, TASS reports.
According to Tokayev, the one-time seven-year presidency will also create a reliable barrier to attempts to monopolize and even usurp power.
Fundamental changes in the electoral system will ensure the active participation of citizens in the formation of truly popular maslikhats (local representative bodies) and parliament, the Kazakh leader noted.
The head of state added that through the direct election of heads of administrations of cities and regions, a more effective system of local government will be formed.
Tokayev, when addressing the country’s population on September 1, announced the holding of early presidential elections this fall and early elections to the Majilis (lower house of parliament) and maslikhats in the first half of 2023.
In the middle of September 2022, he signed a law amending the constitution, which increases the presidential term to seven years without the right to re-election. On September 21, the president scheduled elections for November 20.