Kazakhstan's Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is eligible to run for another seven-year term, a decision enabled by a constitutional referendum in March that reset term limits. His current tenure will not count toward the new limits, allowing him to seek re-election when his existing term concludes in 2029.
The March referendum approved amendments to the constitution, which came into effect this month and have strengthened Tokayev's authority. These changes include consolidating the parliament's two chambers into one and granting the president the power to appoint key government officials with legislative approval. The amendments also re-established the position of vice president and created a presidential appointment-controlled People's Council tasked with initiating legislation and referendums.
Tokayev, 73, has led the Central Asian nation of 20 million people since 2019. He previously served as a diplomat and worked for the Soviet government. His presidency has involved navigating a careful balance between Russia and Western nations, particularly in light of sanctions against Moscow over its war in Ukraine. Tokayev has stated that constitutional amendments are necessary to facilitate swift decision-making in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Nursultan Nazarbayev, an autocratic leader, held power in Kazakhstan for nearly three decades. Tokayev, who was Nazarbayev's chosen successor, assumed the role of acting president in 2019 upon Nazarbayev's resignation. In 2022, Tokayev oversaw a forceful suppression of protests that resulted in 238 deaths and thousands of injuries, events referred to as "Bloody January." He subsequently presented himself as a reformer and won an early presidential election later that year.
Leaders in several other former Soviet republics have also modified their constitutions to increase executive powers and prolong their time in office. These nations include Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The opposition within Kazakhstan is not currently represented in governmental bodies and has had limited impact on public opinion.